The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-01-07

amples of this tendency and ! am
often tempted TO confute the state
ments, but usually refrain because
have not enough technical infor-
nation TO do so, since the articles
often appear to come from author
itative sources.
Recently | have been requested
by a member of the American As
ISOLATION of Orthodontists to try
to counterfeit the harm done by an
article in the news which described
a method Of Strengthening teeth
within two TO fourteen days.
II was stated in the article that
by a strategic placing of wire be-
tween upper and lower teeth it is
possible to bring about much
more rapid change in tooth posi-
ton than is possible with the ordi-
nary spring or rubber band ten
sion alone.
When / read the article it
seemed exaggerated TO me, anf /
am glad to be assured from an
authoritative source that such a
statement will simply confuse the
public.
Correction of Irregularities
Orthodontics is that branch Of
dentistry which has to do with the
prevention and correction Of ir-
regularities of the teeth and de-
formities of the face and jaws. Its
practitioners are able to bring
about results because they concern
themselves largely with growth
the growth of the jaws and bony
processes around the teeth
Teeth are not just Strengthened
by the exertion of mechanical pres
sure. If this were true, one could
easily make an apparatus at home
and apply it to the teeth to push
them in the desired direction. Or
thodontics is a highly specialized
division of dentistry which re-
quires specific knowledge Of funda-
mental sciences, which alone make
it possible to apply any corrective
treatment.
Toe o=st research reports show
that it takes eleven days to obtain
any new bone formation following
the beginning Of treatment Bone
destruction can be obtained rap
idly, but il that we're all that is
desired, it might be accomplished
surgically under an anaesthetic
rather than by two to fourteen
days Of excessive pressure.
Takes Time
Orthodontists have striven TO
design appliances which exert con-
slant, delicate pressures. 1t would
be very easy to use appliances
which exert forty to fifty times the
pressure used. Hence the folly Of
claiming rapid results by finding
a way to gain added pressures
from biting stresses. 1t is impos-
sible to correct a badly deformed
arch within a few days.
Tendency to malformation Of
the teeth and jaws may be heredi-
tary or acquired. The acquired
type may be due to diet, respira-
tory difficulty or environmental.
There may be interference with
normal growth of the bones II the
head and face. Removal of baby
teeth too soon or retention too
long also may contribute to the
condition.
1t must be evident TO anyone
who considers the subject that
such a complicated situation can
not be corrected in a short space
Of time.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
B. H. C.:-"Will you please tell
me which is the more fattening,
beet or cane sugar, and if bees
honey is fattening at all" ea~
Answer: Ounce for ounce beet
and cane sugar have about an
equal amount Of calories and are
equally fattening. Honey is chem
ically about the same and is just
as fattening as sugar, though it is
difficult to measure the amount Of
sugar in honey in comparison with
dry sugar.