Page 49 - My FlipBook

LIGATURES.
35
sary ; or for any purpose whatsoever where it is desired to hold for a
not six months, a number of teeth in a fixed
period exceeding position.
Let us a case such as I was called
imagine recently upon to treat.
A portly gentleman fell against a curb while crossing a street, and
striking against his upper lip, loosened the six anterior teeth, breaking
the corners from one or two and the others. Whether he
chipping
calls after the accident, or waits three weeks
immediately foolishly
(as my patient did), until inflammation has set in and one or two
fistulse have
appeared, the first thing to be done is to make the teeth
firm. In the instance cited, I accomplished this with flax so well that
not only were the teeth made so firm that mastication became at once
possible, and under treatment all were saved, but I was enabled to grind
the jagged edges from the teeth without discomfort, although before
the it was for him to touch the teeth with his
tying painful tongue.
By the aid of Fig. 50 I will endeavor to show how this may be
accomplished. In the figure are seen two rows of ligatures. The
FIG. 50.

upper, or one nearest to the gum margin, is simply an extension of
the so that, as seen, it includes six teeth. One
figure 8 ligature, point
must be mentioned in this connection. As already described, the
double twist is made between the teeth and drawn tightly, one end of
the thread being toward the palate and the other toward the lips.
In the teeth I have directed that the second half of the knot
posterior
should be similarly made. In the incisor region the knot must be
with both ends at the labial follow-
completed presenting aspect. By
ing this advice, the action of drawing the teeth together is attained
the double twist between the teeth, but were the
while tightening
knot completed in the same manner it would make a bulge at that
which would close contact when the next tooth was in-
point prevent
cluded. By having both ends at the labial aspect, the bulge of the
knot occurs at the labial angle, where it cannot interfere. Thus the
knot does not show in Fig. 49, vhile in Fig. 50 one is seen at every
space. In the figure it may be observed that the ligature starting at
the cuspid has been carried along, tying each tooth, till it finishes