The influence of premature loss of deciduous molars and the eruption of their successors

Radio-abstracts

The

influence successors.

of premature

loss of deciduous

molars

C. G. Sleichter. Angle Orthodontist

and

the eruption

of their

33: 279-283, October, 1963.

Therapeutic removal of deciduous teeth to hasten eruption of their successorsis of considerable importance in dentistry. There is, however, little documented evidence that permanent teeth erupt either more or less rapidly when the corresponding deciduous teeth are removed prior to the normal time of shedding. Periapical complete x-ray film surveys in the Department of Pedodontics at the State University of Iowa College of Dentistry were searched for children who had undergone premature extraction of deciduous molars. Measurements were taken of the distance from the tip of the cusp of the premolar to the interproximal alveolar crest on the side of the missing tooth and of the corresponding tooth on the opposite side of the same arch. The mandibular arch only was used for consistency of roentgenographic accuracy. A like group without premature loss of deciduous teeth was used as a control for the unilateral extraction group. Results showed a negligible difference in the stage or progress of eruption between corresponding left and right mandibular premolars in the control group. In the study group, the premolar-s under the area of premature extraction nearly always proceeded to erupt at a more rapid rate than those on the nonextraction side. In individual cases, however, a premolar under an extraction area was seen erupting through 8 mm. of bone while the corresponding tooth decreased its distance by only 2 mm., a premolar under a. premature extraction area was seen reaching the occlusal level later than the corresponding tooth, and individual teeth appeared to erupt more rapidly than their antimeres until they penetrated the cortical plate of bone when the two teeth became more symmetrical and reached the occlusal level at. the sametime. A general conclusion would be that the premature loss of deciduous teeth tends to encourage more rapid eruption, with some except,ions. Factors contributing t.o these exceptions may be (1) extraction before the succedaneous tooth has approached the occlusal aspect of the covering alveolus, (2) drifting of posterior molars into the space to create an impaction, and (3) excessive USC of the tissue overlying the tooth for masticating purposes. In order to keep readers of ORAL SURGERY, ORAL MEDICINE AND ORAL PATHOLOGY informed about articles published in journals not generally read by dentally oriented viduals, a “Radio-Abstracts ’ ’ page has been added as a permanent :feature of t.he Oral genology section,

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