Robert M.

Ricketts
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Robert M. Ricketts

Born Robert Murray Ricketts

May 5, 1920

Kokomo, Indiana

Died June 17, 2003 (aged 83)

Scottsdale, Arizona

Education Indiana University School of Dentistry

Known for Developed Rickett's Cephalometric Analysis,

Bioprogressive Theory, an .018in slot for orthodontic

bracket, Utility arch

Medical career

Profession Dentist

Sub- Orthodontics

specialties

Dr. Robert M. Ricketts (May 5, 1920 - June 17, 2003) was an

American orthodontist known for many contributions in the field of orthodontics.
[1]
 Most important contributions were related to his development of Ricketts'
Cephalometric Analysis [2] and an .018-inch slot in an orthodontic bracket. His
research focused on the growth and structural variation of the face and jaws.

Contents

 1Life
 2Orthodontics
 3Bioprogressive therapy
 4Morganics
 5Awards and recognitions
 6Positions
 7See also
 8References

Life[edit]
Ricketts was born in Kokomo, Indiana into a poor family. In his early childhood
years, his family's farming business was devastated by the Great Depression of
the 1920s. After high school, he worked as a laborer in a steel mill factory and a
radio factory for one year. He obtained his dental degree from Indiana University
School of Dentistry in 1945. He then joined the U.S. Navy as a dentist for two years
and eventually went to the University of Illinois to study orthodontics under
Dr. Allan G. Brodie. He obtained his master's degree in 1947.
He was a professor at many universities in the world, including Loma Linda
University, University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Southern California.
During his lifetime, he was member of 17 professional societies and gave over 100
lectures all over the world about orthodontics. In 1981, he founded the American
Institute for Bioprogressive Education.
He retired at the age of 72 and moved to Scottsdale, Arizona in 1992. He died at
the age of 83 in 2003. Ricketts was married twice and was survived by four
children: Robin, Gale, Craig, and Anastar.

Orthodontics[edit]
Ricketts' contributions in orthodontics started in the 1950s. During that era, doctors
Alan Brodie and Holly Broadbent Sr. believed in using cephalometric radiographs
for longitudinal studies rather than clinical applications. Ricketts' views were
contrary. He published two papers in 1960 in which he showed his work of using
cephalometric X-rays on 1000 patients in his clinic. [3] Some of his contributions to
the field of orthodontics were

 the first straight wire bracket .018 inch slot, in 1970

 cephalometric analysis, which allowed clinicians to compare their patients
with norms based on age, sex, and race
 the first cephalometric system to forecast treatment result plus growth in
treatment planning (developed with Carl F. Gugino)
 pentamorphine arches, which are five different arch forms individualized to
different patients
 root ratings based upon the works of Miura and Lee to quantify the forces
necessary to move teeth in any plane of space
 Ricketts' Utility Arch
 computerized cephalometric analysis
 the concept of bioprogressive philosophy (developed with Carl Gugino and
Ruel Bench)[4]
Ricketts published over 30 books.[5] Nine of his books (3 volumes) concerned
cranio-facial orthopedics. He also wrote a personal narrative called The
Reappearing American that was published in 1993.[6]

Bioprogressive therapy[edit]
Ricketts developed the bioprogressive philosophy which stated that a face should
be treated as a whole, rather than focusing one's attention on just teeth and
occlusion. This philosophy involves over 100 principles that are divided into the
"four" sciences known as Social, Biological, Clinical, and Mechanical. [7][8] Some of
the principles of this philosophy includes:

 the importance of diagnosis and treatment in orthodontics, with the

application of the Visual Treatment Objective (VTO) and evaluating anchorage
control during the therapy
 torque control throughout treatment, which leads to more efficient treatment
 muscular and cortical bone anchorage
 proper application of pressure in relation to movement of teeth in various
direction
 treatment of overbite before the overjet
 sectional arch treatment, in which treatment in one arch can be broken
down into various segments
 overtreatment in order to overcome the tendency of relapse
 pre-fabricated appliances, which allows clinicians to focus more time
delivering the appliance than constructing it

Morganics[edit]
In the 1950s, Ricketts was the first person in United States to prescribe nutritional
supplements in his orthodontic and orthopedic practice. Later, he developed a
nutritional community and eventually, due to his contributions in the field of
microbiology and chemistry, the Morganics Nutrition Supplement was developed.
The company Morganics was founded in 1993 and is currently based in Phoenix,
Arizona.[9]