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Self-correction of a maxillary lateral incisor in linguoversion
SELF-CORRECTION OF A MAXII~LARY LA'l'ERAL INCISOR IN LINGUOVERSION
By
MAX
J.
FUTTERMAN,
D.D.S.,
NEW YORK,.N.
Y.
T
H E case here reported should be of interest to those who are interested in the complex problem of development. The patient, a boy aged six years, well developed physically and mentally, presented himself at my office for dental examination and treatment. Both arches were well developed, but the maxillary right lateral incisor was in linguoversion. Not only was the lateral almost fully erupted in a lingual position, but it was already "locked in," as can be easily seen by noting its
A
Fig. 1.
B
Fig. 2.
position in Fig. 1 A. A vertical diagram of the area, Fig. 2, shows more graphically the exact amount of locking that has taken place. After performing the necessary operative work, I attempted to explain to the parents of the child why it would be absolutely essential to have the lateral brought into its correct position in the arch. The parents told me they would" think it over." I waited and waited, but the patient did not return. Every time I looked at the model, I had visions of what I thought was happening to the boy's dental arches. About eight months later, I was informed by the boy's aunt that the tooth had assumed its correct position in the maxilla. In view of the original lingual position of the tooth, I was rather skeptical in believing that the lateral had 233
234
Max J. Futterman
assumed a new position. The boy was subsequently brought to my office, and I found that the lateral had assumed a correct position, as shown in Fig. 1 B. It is important to note that the youngster had not applied any artificial means of correcting this malformation, such as the use of tongue depressors, wood sticks, or pencils. We all know that the tongue is an unusually active muscular organ, and it could only be through the action of this muscular structure that the tooth was forced into its normal position.
By
MAX
J.
FUTTERMAN,
D.D.S.,
NEW YORK,.N.
Y.
T
H E case here reported should be of interest to those who are interested in the complex problem of development. The patient, a boy aged six years, well developed physically and mentally, presented himself at my office for dental examination and treatment. Both arches were well developed, but the maxillary right lateral incisor was in linguoversion. Not only was the lateral almost fully erupted in a lingual position, but it was already "locked in," as can be easily seen by noting its
A
Fig. 1.
B
Fig. 2.
position in Fig. 1 A. A vertical diagram of the area, Fig. 2, shows more graphically the exact amount of locking that has taken place. After performing the necessary operative work, I attempted to explain to the parents of the child why it would be absolutely essential to have the lateral brought into its correct position in the arch. The parents told me they would" think it over." I waited and waited, but the patient did not return. Every time I looked at the model, I had visions of what I thought was happening to the boy's dental arches. About eight months later, I was informed by the boy's aunt that the tooth had assumed its correct position in the maxilla. In view of the original lingual position of the tooth, I was rather skeptical in believing that the lateral had 233
234
Max J. Futterman
assumed a new position. The boy was subsequently brought to my office, and I found that the lateral had assumed a correct position, as shown in Fig. 1 B. It is important to note that the youngster had not applied any artificial means of correcting this malformation, such as the use of tongue depressors, wood sticks, or pencils. We all know that the tongue is an unusually active muscular organ, and it could only be through the action of this muscular structure that the tooth was forced into its normal position.