Page 239 - My FlipBook

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OF THE UNDER JAW. 223
The best of these means is an instrument of silver, with
a socket or groove shaped to the fore Teeth of the lower
jaw to receive them, so as to jl)ecome fast to them, and
sloped off as it arises to its upper edge, so as to rise behind
the fore Teeth in the upper jaw in such a manner, that
upon shutting the mouth, the Teeth of the upper jaw may
catch the anterior part of the slanting surface, and be
pushed forward with the power of the inclined plane. The
patient, who wears such an instrument, must frequently
shut his mouth with this view.
These need not be continued longer than till the edges
of the lower Teeth can be got behind those of the upper
for it is then within the power of the patient, as in the
first stated case, (c)

(c) [Hunter's remarks upon the treatment of irregularities of the teeth
are sound and judicious as far as they go, although his ideas with respect
to the extraction of the temporary teeth are evidently influenced hy his
opinion that the ten permanent teeth only require exactly the samo
amount of space as that which was occupied by their predecessors.
The treatment of irregularities has made such advances since Hunter's
time, that it is impossible to describe the various contrivances now
employed, without exceeding the limits of notes. The reader is there-
fore referred to the standard works on Dental Surgery for information
on this part of the subject.]

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