The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-30

Raleigh, N. O., Set. 30--From Dr. Bert G. Anderson, Associate Pro- lessor of Surgery at Yale University School of Medicine, came word today of a rapid, radical method of strengthening teeth of young chil- dren which requires only a few days of treatment with simple wiring in- stead of long perioGs of time and construction of expensive appliances now used extensively.
 Addressing a meeting of the Southern Society of Orthodontists, pr. Anderson described his experi- mentS, which are contrary to the generally accepted dental theory that slow movement is absCsutely neces- sary in straightning crooked teeth.
 Simple Equipment
 Working with simple equipment, he was able to stralghten quickly the teeth of "A patients in periods of time ranging from two to fourteen days. Present orthodontic practice commonly requires the wearing of special braces for periods varying from on to five or more years. He emphasized that this new method, which was devised to test existing dental theories, is applicable only to certain types of deSormities.
 Dr. Anderson selected children from eight to fifteen years of age whose teeth were so deformed that in many instances the top row of front teeth were bit:ng behind in- stead of in front of the bottom row. He attached wires to adjacent and adjoining teeth, compelling them to glide into the correct mouth posi- ton.
 The force compelling teeth to assume the correct position was exercised by the patients in the pro- cess of biting. Very little pain re- suited. After wearing the wires for few days, the children had them removed. They were examined peril odically for several years. The re- suits, states pr. Anderson, show that more rapid treatment of de- formed teeth is justified in many cases with only @ brief period needed to straighten them.
 He said the patients did not com- plain of any more pain than lis commonly registered during the initial stages when conservative orthodontic treatment is begun.
 Although the jaws were bound together and movement Of the teeth was brought about comparatively fast, at no time was such violent force eXerted as is the case when separation wires are applied in regular orthodontic treatment."
 He states that the wiring technic employed at Yale lis not violently applied, but there is sufficient irri- tation to cause the patient himself to force the teeth as much as he will, an dalso prevent him from oyer-forcing them"
 Marked Improvement
 Despite current theories regarding the rate of speed which should be used to straighten teeth, Dr.. Ander- son says that Tn no instance was tooth devitalized. No teeth showed root resorption on X-ray examinaA tion, nor permanent iousening as the result of this comparatively rapid movement towards normal posi- tions." On the other hand, the gums showed marked Improvement after this treatment.
 He reported that, in beginning treatment, Patients were advised that they should expect some dis comfort, that there would be no difficulty in furnishing them with a nutritionally adequate diet which could easily be taken into the mouth between the teeth, and that there would be only a slight spech im- pairment with the jaws in a fixed position.
 All of these patients who were attending school continued with their claSswork without great dif- ficultg. During treatment these pa- tients were required to visit the clinic four times the first week and three times the scond wek for in- spection and to take up the slack in the wires"
 pr. Anderson showed the dental specialists photographs Of one eight year-old girl whose teeth were in such a condition that her face had a congpicuOus defOrmity and she