Edward C. Stafne

A characteristic dental finding in acrosclerosis and diffuse scleroderma

Abstract A characteristic change has been observed in the dental roentgenograms of patients suffering from acrosclerosis and diffuse scleroderma, in which the prominent feature is a widening of the periodontal space. This widening of the space apparently occurs most often in association with acrosclerosis although it also may be present with diffuse scleroderma. Microscopic examination of one specimen revealed that the enlarged periodontal space is occupied by a markedly thickened periodontal membrane. Thickening of the vessel walls suggests that the change in the periodontal membrane is probably brought about by the same circulatory disturbance which is a salient feature in acrosclerosis and diffuse scleroderma.

Surgical and orthodontic treatment in a case of noneruption of twelve permanent teeth

0 NE of the causes of noneruption of the permanent teeth is prolonged retention of the deciduous t,eeth. Retention of one or a limited number of deciduous teeth beyond the normal time for exfoliation is in itself not an uncommon occurrence. Such retention usually exists when there is congenital absence; impaction, or noneruption of the permanent successor or when the permanent tooth erupts into malposition. Some deciduous teeth which a.re retained serve a useful purpose in adult life, particularly when the permanent successors are absent, and in such instances the possibilities for t,heir future Ilsefulness should be considered.’ When there is congenital absence of a large slumber of permanent teeth, as often occurs in ect,odermal dysplasia, deciduous teeth have been retained well into adult life, or until such time as the jaws have reached their maximum size and have become favorable for wearing of artificial dentures. Morgan2 has called attention to the ill effects which result from prolonged retention of deciduous teeth and has advised extraction as a meac such a tooth will not assume its proper place in the drntal arch without the aid of nrthodont,ic measures. Prolonged ret,ention of deciduous teeth may occur when there is a failure of the room to resorb owing to the character of the bone and its lack of resorptive power, as in cases of cleidocranial dysostosis, cretinism, and so forth. Under such circumstances, extraction of the deciduous teeth as a preventive or corrective measure rarely alters the situation, and orthodontic procedures carried out in such cases are rarely successful. As a matter of fact, in cases in which there is a prolonged retention of a large number of deciduous teeth, the possibility that such retention may be associated with one of these conditions in which there is lack of resorptive power should be ruled out before orthodontic measures are instituted. As with congenital absence, occurrence of super-