Treatment of malocclusion of the teeth : Angle's system.

  • Angle, Edward H. (Edward Hartley), 1855-1930.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Treatment of malocclusion of the teeth : Angle's system. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    broad possibilities of which are even yet but dimly com- prehended by those who have not given it careful study. In the light of our present knowledge most of the theory, as well as of the practice, of even a few years ago seems strikingly crude. Of such theory and practice was the common advice to young patients to ''let the teeth alone and trust to Nature to straighten them, or to wait until the permanent den- tition should be complete before making any effort toward their correction. Of such was the unfortunate sacrifice of teeth with a mistaken view of relieving the crowded condition of the arches, but with the result often of aggra- vating the malocclusion and giving rise to a serious train of evils, as shown in the chapter on etiology. So, also, the use of huge plates combined with springs taken from clocks and various strange mechanisms as a means of tooth movement, now seems more in accord with many of the teachings of medicine during the period of history known as the dark ages. Until within a very few years the teachings of ortho- dontia in dental colleges was very superficial, even of ttimes being wholly omitted from the curriculum. Now, how- ever, in all of our best colleges separate chairs have been established and the subject is more comprehensively taught. Yet this branch of the science is still made subservient to all others in dentistry, notwithstanding the fact that its exactions in teaching and practice are greater than in any of the other branches of dentistry. There should be still further radical improvements in its teaching, for it is an historical fact that no student has yet acquired at a dental college proficiency in this branch sufficient to enable