Page 66 - My FlipBook

46 — Irregularities of the Teeth.
portant to say on the effects of crowded and irregular teeth in
the production the above diseases, and the means to be used for
their prevention.
•* The children for whom the assistance of the dentist is most
frequently sought, are those who are either in a delicate, or at
least an imperfect constitutional health ; where the state of not
only the temporary teeth, but of the permanent also is to be
considered ; and where both are found diseased, the future
health and regularity of the latter requires the greatest consid-
eration of the surgeon.
" Irregularity of the teeth is one of the chief predisposing
causes of their diseases, and never fails even in the most
healthy constitution to destroy, sooner or later, the strongest
and best set of teeth, unless properly attended to. It is thus
not only a most powerful cause of destruction to the health
and beauty of the teeth, but also to the regularity and pleasing
symmetry of the features of the face ; always producing,
though slowly and gradually, some irregularity, but not ua-
frequently the most surprising and disgusting appearance
;
such as, distortion of the under jaw to one side, a great elon-
gation of that jaw and the chin giving the face \hat grinning
or ludicrous, and sometimes forbidding appearance, which be-
comes particularly evident and characteristic at some future
period of life.
"It is, however, a great pleasure to know that Dental Sur-
gery is abundantly provided with the most sure remedies ; and
that, in the most delicate subjects, if placed under proper care
at an early age, the greater portion of the teeth of the perma-
nent set may invariably be 'preserved in perfect health and
regularity, in common with their relative and contiguous
parts." Koecker, p. 180.
"The influence which the teeth exercise over beauty, justi-
fies the pre-eminence which I ^attribute to them over all the
other attractions of the countenance. This ornament is equally
attractive in both sexes : it distinguishes the elegant from the