Resolutions

The new year has always been a time for making resolutions. Many are common themes such as resolving to loose weight, reduce stress, spend more time with our families, break bad habits, be more productive on the job or replace negativity with a more positive outlook. Our intentions are usually very noble, but our resolve is frequently weak (which is why so many of these resolutions are repeated year after year).

Your editorial team at Operative Dentistry (see photo) meets prior to each New Year to make our own resolutions regarding the journal. Last year, we went overboard with grandiose plans and, thanks to a tremendous effort by all concerned, we actually succeeded with the majority of our resolutions:

1. The addition of The Academy of RV Tucker Study Clubs as a sponsoring academy went very smoothly, thanks to the remarkable cooperation and support of the entire Tucker group. They compliment both the Academy of Operative Dentistry and the American Academy of Gold Foil Operators and make the journal a stronger, more vital publication.

2. Our online journal has succeeded well beyond our expectations. Most of the expected “bugs” have been eliminated and the usage rate is high. The format has been particularly popular with our institutional and international subscribers.

3. Subscriptions were at a record high (one of our top priorities), besting our next highest year by more than 60 subscriptions.

4. Manuscript submissions continue to increase at a steady rate, giving us more choices and a greater volume of research and clinical techniques for our readership. In addition, our Editorial Board is growing, and they remain steadfast in their determination to give our readers only the best evidence-based information available to the profession.

We are NOT, however, going to rest on our laurels (since that only results in a sore backside). We just cannot be content with the “status quo” and know that you would not be either. Therefore, we have resolved to continue our efforts to make your journal even better. Our goals for 2007 include:

1. Finding ways to go even more “paperless” in the journal offices to increase efficiency and cut costs.

2. Instituting changes to allow submission of manuscripts directly to our server, bypassing e-mail systems and ensuring that submissions are secure, complete and faster, while preserving the authors' original formatting.

3. Updating our website to be more functional, attractive and easy to use.

4. Continuing to find ways to increase both subscriptions and manuscript submissions and to improve the quality of our overall service to the Academies, our readers and the many researchers and clinicians whose papers make Operative Dentistry what it is.

5. We have even tossed around the idea of another Supplement issue (suggestions and ideas are welcome) and the possibility of publishing Operative Dentistry in a second language (probably not in the near future).

Finally, I would like to ask you to add us to your New Year's resolution list under the heading of SHARING:

1. If every subscriber would share a copy of Operative Dentistry with only one colleague and extol the benefits of our publication or, even better, give a subscription to him or her as a gift, we would see the journal grow by leaps and bounds.

2. If every practitioner (and I would specifically encourage the Tucker Study Club members) would write a short clinical technique article and share his or her professional experience and expertise, it would make the journal even more pertinent and valuable to all.

3. If you would take the time to e-mail us any criticisms, corrections or suggestions for improvement or change, it would be invaluable in helping us make Operative Dentistry truly your journal.

Whatever you do, even if you ignore our brilliant suggestions on sharing, we wish you a very happy new year and hope that 2007 is a prosperous and productive year for all! Thank you for subscribing to Operative Dentistry.