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IMMEDIATE MOVEMENT OF TEETH. 799

Immediate Movement of Teeth.
The forcible rotation of a tootli bv the forceps was recommended by
Mr. John Tomes.' He said the operation had been frequently performed
by himself and others, without devitalizing the pulp except in one hos-
pital case ; that the best age for the operation was eight or nine years ;
that he had performed it for patients thirteen years of age and for one
patient of fifteen. The operation has been performed by many since
then, and for older patients also, being preferred by some to the longer
but less painful plan usually followed.
The beaks of the forceps should be carefully fitted to the neck of
the tooth, which should be protected by sandpaper, emery cloth or lead
foil. Tomes recommends that in some cases the tooth be rotated half
way at first, then allowed to rest for a couple of weeks before being ro-
tated to place. The operation is confined, of course, to teeth with straight
conical roots. Even a slight curve in the root such as is frequently
found with the lateral incisor would render the operation impossible.
Immediate Regulating- of Inlocked Teeth.—Dr. L. C. Bryan '' has
advocated the immediate movement of single teeth, situated inside the

Fiu. 828.

arch, especially canines and laterals. The following is his description
of the operation : " The treatment which I have finally adopted is to
inject cocain and either partially cut away the thick intervening alveolar
process with drills and fissure burs, or, when the process is thin, bodily
wedge the outer alveolar wall away with a half-round wedge-shaped
chisel, by inserting the point of the instrument between the crown and
the bone and forcing it up along the root until enough space is secured
for the tooth to be brought out into place outside the lower tooth. This
' Tomes, Denial Sunjery, 2d ed., p. 1G2. '^ Dental Review, 1892, vol. vi. p. 859.