Editorials 737

be some mistake. Being unable to get in touch with the dentist over thetelephone that day, the exodontist did not extract the permanent molars butremoved some badly decayed and abscessed deciduous teeth, which the dentisthad not ordered extracted. Later, the dentist became very abusive to theexodontist and informed him that when a patient was referred for extraction,it was not the exodontist's business to use his own judgment, but to do whathe was told to do. There are a great many dentists who hold a similar opinion,even when they advise something that the majority of the profession knowto be wrong. The exodontist wishing to do the best thing for the patient hasa responsibility forced upon him which is not very pleasant if he wishes tokeep the good will of the dentist.

The responsibility of the exodontist to the public is a factor that has notbeen recognized by the dental profession, or the exodontists as it should be,and it will have to be given more consideration in the future if exodontistsare to render a real service to the public. Recognized standard methodsof procedure must be adhered to regardless of the wish of the dentistwho has referred the patient for some service (like the extraction of a normalanterior tooth) which should not be rendered. The possibility of orthodontictreatment extends over a considerable period of a patient's life, and mal­occlusions can be started through minor errors. These are things that theexodontist should remember before he does irreparable injury.

Exodontia is more closely related to orthodontics from the standpointof the welfare of the patient than some might imagine. It should always beremembered that the extraction of teeth has a great bearing on the patientfrom an orthodontic point of view. The best thing for the patient shouldalways be the ideal of the dental profession.

Erratum

In the November, 1920, issue of the Journal, the article by Dr. M. N.Federspiel entitled" A Report of a Case of Ostitis of the Mandible with anExternal Fistula Caused by a Suppurative, Proliferative Pericementitis of aLower Right Third Molar" should have appeared under the Department ofOral Surgery and Surgical Orthodontia, instead of the Department of Dentaland Oral Radiography.