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HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY 311
point out its great signilicaiice. W'iiilu probably not so considered by its author,
it was in very truth an epoch-making paper because it brought to light funda-
mental facts which had hitherto been overlooked and whicli, by virtue of their
importance, opened tlie way for marked changes in dental procedures. After
presenting the anatomical features of the individual teeth, their relation to one
another and the manner in which the occlusion of the upper and lower teeth
served the best purposes of speecli and mastication. Dr. Davenport proceeded
to show liow any cliange of form in any of the teetli, or the loss of one or more
teeth, so disturlied tlie normal relationsliip as to greatly lessen their efficiency,
favor decay and produce inharmony of the features. After showing numerous
plaster models, divided so as to expose the occlusion of the inner cusps of the
side teetlr as well as the outer ones after tiieir relationsliip liad been altered
by extraction and their efficiency consecjuently lessened, he says:
"But why extract at all? For, besides the loss of important organs we
shorten the bite, contract the moutli, disturb the facial expression and secure
at least an arrangement of the teeth less favorable for their preservation than
existed at first."
While admitting that under unusual conditions slight extraction may
sometimes be resorted to with favorable results, he strongly condemned the
practice in general and makes the following significant declaration, "I am
forced to believe tliat far more irregularities have been caused by extractions
than could ever have been corrected by extraction."
In another important paper read before the American Dental Society of
Europe, in 1891,' entitled, "Articulation of the Teeth," Dr. Davenport ampli-
fies his views in regard to wliat constitutes correct or normal articulation
(occlusion ) and the importance of ti'ying to secure it in all regulating proced-
ures. He says
"Largely on account of bad articulation irregular teeth tend to become
more irregular. * * * Mxich harm is usually done by the use of regulat-
ing appliances which change the articulation without improving it, and it is
almost a universal fact that unless an improvement can be made in articula-
tion there will be no permanent improvement in the irregularity. Finally, the
articulation is the only permanent retainer to be depended upon."
Here we see for the first time the declaration (since then so generally ac-
cepted) that only by re-establishing normal occlusion can we hope to secure
peiTnanently satisfactory results in regulating.
In 1887, V. H. JvcKSor, who had previously used other appliances in
' Inteniatiunal Dental Journal, Vol. XIII, p. 1.
HISTORY OF DENTAL SURGERY 311
point out its great signilicaiice. W'iiilu probably not so considered by its author,
it was in very truth an epoch-making paper because it brought to light funda-
mental facts which had hitherto been overlooked and whicli, by virtue of their
importance, opened tlie way for marked changes in dental procedures. After
presenting the anatomical features of the individual teeth, their relation to one
another and the manner in which the occlusion of the upper and lower teeth
served the best purposes of speecli and mastication. Dr. Davenport proceeded
to show liow any cliange of form in any of the teetli, or the loss of one or more
teeth, so disturlied tlie normal relationsliip as to greatly lessen their efficiency,
favor decay and produce inharmony of the features. After showing numerous
plaster models, divided so as to expose the occlusion of the inner cusps of the
side teetlr as well as the outer ones after tiieir relationsliip liad been altered
by extraction and their efficiency consecjuently lessened, he says:
"But why extract at all? For, besides the loss of important organs we
shorten the bite, contract the moutli, disturb the facial expression and secure
at least an arrangement of the teeth less favorable for their preservation than
existed at first."
While admitting that under unusual conditions slight extraction may
sometimes be resorted to with favorable results, he strongly condemned the
practice in general and makes the following significant declaration, "I am
forced to believe tliat far more irregularities have been caused by extractions
than could ever have been corrected by extraction."
In another important paper read before the American Dental Society of
Europe, in 1891,' entitled, "Articulation of the Teeth," Dr. Davenport ampli-
fies his views in regard to wliat constitutes correct or normal articulation
(occlusion ) and the importance of ti'ying to secure it in all regulating proced-
ures. He says
"Largely on account of bad articulation irregular teeth tend to become
more irregular. * * * Mxich harm is usually done by the use of regulat-
ing appliances which change the articulation without improving it, and it is
almost a universal fact that unless an improvement can be made in articula-
tion there will be no permanent improvement in the irregularity. Finally, the
articulation is the only permanent retainer to be depended upon."
Here we see for the first time the declaration (since then so generally ac-
cepted) that only by re-establishing normal occlusion can we hope to secure
peiTnanently satisfactory results in regulating.
In 1887, V. H. JvcKSor, who had previously used other appliances in
' Inteniatiunal Dental Journal, Vol. XIII, p. 1.
