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44 Irregularities of the Teeth.
there is a disposition in the jaws to expand, to make room for
the increase of size in the permanent teeth.
Third, if there be no prominence in the gum behind the
temporary teeth ; indicating that a permanent tooth is about
to come through.
In proportion as the above circumstances are found to exist,
a more or less regular state of the permanent teeth may bo
anticipated.
We shall not attempt a minute description of the means to
Our
be used to prevent or obviate irregularities of the teeth.
great object has been to give the reader sufficient information
on the subject to convince him of its importance, and to make
it plain what course is proper to be pursued.
We would advise the progress of the second dentition to be
carefully observed, and if the teeth should be. perceived to be
coming in irregularly, application for the assistance of a well
informed dentist in the case, and the child placed wholly under
his management; as it is to be supposed that he knows best
what remedies are proper, and his reputation is pledged for the
execution of his duty.
In the treatment of irregularities of the teeth, reference
should be had to the cause, and efforts made for its removal or
to obviate its effects.
When the irregularity is caused by a want of consentaneous
action between the formation, or protrusion of the permanent
teeth, and the absorption of the fangs of the temporary ones,
the latter teeth should then be extracted without delay, when
the permanent teeth will easily be brought into their proper
position, by the frequent pressing upon tbem with the finger,
or by a silken ligature, in such a manner as to aid them in ac-
quiring a proper dentition.
The earlier means are taken to remedy irregularities of the
above kind, the better. Irregularities caused by conformation
of the jaws and teeth are much more difficult to treat ; and
often require the sacrifice of four of the permanent bicuspid
teeth. The incisores or cuspidati should never be extracted, if
their extraction can be avoided, as on these teeth, the symme-