Page 410 - My FlipBook

406 ACCIDENTS IN THE EXTRACTION OF TEETH.

DISLOCATION OF THE INFERIOR MAXILLA.

The dislocation of the inferior maxilla is an acci-
dent of not very frequent occurrence. In persons of
lax muscles and with large mouths, the operation of

extracting teeth is liable to produce it; sometimes
when the operation is on the upper jaw, but more
frequently when it is on the lower. In the former
case, it is an effect of the patient's effort to open the
mouth; but in the latter, generally that of the move-
ment of the jaw by the instrument. The dislocation
consists in a downward and forward movement of
one or both of the condyles, so that they are thrown
out of their sockets, and rest in front of the anterior
rim. In such case, the mouth is distended to its
utmost, the chin thrown down on the breast, and
deglutition and speech rendered impossible. Some-
times but one condyle will be thrown out; in which

case the jaw is thrown downward and to one side.
This accident seldom or never occurs with patients
who have small mouths or firm muscles. When it
does happen, however, the dislocation should be
promptly reduced. Of the various methods of accom-
plishing this reduction, the one most commonly em-
ployed, which is very efficient, is as follows: if both
condyles are dislocated, place corks, or some similar