The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1923-08-11

10 the Health Editor OF the APP
peal. DIR. Weber will publish the
answers each week in this column.
THE FIRST PERMANENT MOLAR.
How many of. you know that this
(the first permanent molar) is the
most important tooth in the mouth;
how many of you know that this
tooth is the foundation of the per-
manent teeth; again, how many of
you know when this tooth erupts and
where it is located in the mouth?
Parents, particularly mothers,
should know all of these facts, be-
cause the so-called permanent first
molar erupts early in childhood, at
the age of six years. 1t comes in
just behind the temporary teeth and
if the parent is not vigilant he or she
will mistake this tooth as one of the
temporary teeth. And like a goodly
number of parents, they let the
child's teeth go regardless of what
condition they are in because of the
fact that they will receive a perma-
nent set. This is indeed a tristful
happening because many times the
Esix-year molar or the first perma-
nent molar goes along with the tenn
porary set. Then just think what
you have done. You have destroyed
the foundation, you are going to
build the teeth without any support,
just the same as carpenter who
would build a house on sand.
This tooth is called the "six-year
molar" because it begins to make it.
self manifest at the age of six years.
Four teeth are erupted at this time
two upper and two lower. Parents,
watch your children about this age.
1t is easy to detect the eruption of
this most important tooth. The gum
tissue becomes very red, apparently
inf1amed and swollen. It is not, how
ever, this condition is due to the
widening of the .alveolar process to
support this tooth which is much
larger than any of the temporary
teeth.
For many years men have devoted
their life study to the development
of the human denture and the compli-
Gated interrelated factors which con-
tribute to it. 1t is we'll known and
clearly recognized fact, that it is the
first permanent molar around which
the denture is developed, and that
the normal relation of these teeth is
the most important single factor in
the development of normal den-
ture and an harmonious face. 1t is
further known that the malrelation
of these teeth on eruption always
produces characteristic types of de-
formity.
DR.. F. Noyes writing on this same
subject states the following:
1. "They erupt back of the second
temporary molars while the tempo
rary dentition is still intact. For
this reason, they should be guided
into normal relation, and they main
tain the normal relation of the man.
dible to the maxilla during the period
of the loss of the temporary teeth
and it's replacement by the perma-
nent teeth.
2. "In all of the periods, from six
to eight years of age, they are the
largest, strongest and most efficient
portion of the masticating apparatus.
They are firm in their attachment,
while the temporary teeth are being
loosened and replaced
8. "They determine the balance of
the forces between the muscles at
tached to the anterior and posterior
portions of the mandible Clover jaw
bone) which result in the normal
form of this and related bones.
4. "Their loss always affects the
relation of all the teeth to the skull,
reducing the efficiency of the dem
ture as a masticating machine and
marring the symmetry of the fea-
lures"
Every effort to preserve this tooth
should be taken, carries decay
should not cause destruction, because
if properly guarded there is no need
for decay to set in. If carries should
develop the tooth should be cared
for before the cavity is too large.
The loss of this tooth or these teeth,
destroys the masticatory efficiency of
the denture during the most impor-
tant developmental period, and caused
more or less deformity.
Again I wish to urge the parents
to be mindful of their children dur
ing: all the period of childhood, but
especially from the time they begin
to develop .. their permanent teeth.
namely, from the age of six to four.
teen. The wisdom tooth the last to
erupt does not come through until IS
and sometimes not until 80. Of
course there are variations in de-
velopment, of teeth just the same as
there are variations in anything else.
Some children are late in developing
this so-called "six-year molar."
have known cases where the child
didn't develop them until eight years
of age and on the other hand I have
known them to erupt shortly after
the fifth year.
believe it would be expedient to
give you, briefly, the years during
which the permanent teeth erupt:
The first molar from 9Th to 7th