The biogenic course of the deciduous dentition

Resident: Adam J. Bottrill
Date: 02OCT09
Region: Providence
Article title: The biogenic course of the deciduous dentition
Author(s): Baume, Jouis J.
Journal: J. D. Res
Volume #; Number; Page #s: Vol. 29, No. 2, pp 123-132
Year: April, 1950
Major topic: Physiological tooth migration and its significance for the development of occlusion
Minor topic(s): NA
Type of Article: Review of literature
Main Purpose: Present a review of literature that appears to reveal that there is no truly authentic information on which the present-day concept of the development of occlusion is based.
Overview of method of research: Review

Key points in the article discussion:
A. History:
1. 1819, Delabarre: purpose of anterior deciduous teeth is to make allowances for the permanent dentition.
2. 1890, Zsigmondy: 1st to longitudinally measure and compare lengths of dental arches.
3. 1907, Angle: Malocclusion of the Teeth… and the focus shifted to the permanent 1st molars.
4. 1910, Zeilinsky: developed the “physiological mesial shift”
5. 1922, Franke: shortening of 3.7mm in the lower arch followed by shedding of deciduous teeth.
6. 1924, Simon: “orbit-cuspid” relationship. Suggested shifting of the permanent 1st molar position.
7. 1929, Lewis: concluded that measurements of changes in width of dental arches offer no solution in the diagnosis of developing malocclusion.

B. Study…. ?? to ascertain more detailed information on the physiological changes in the human dental arch.
1. Plaster reproductions of dental arches were made annually, over 8 years, on 30 children starting at less than 4.5 y.o.
2. Measurements: arch length, canine width, 2nd primary molar width.
3. Findings:
a. Generally, the length of maxillary arch remains the same between 4-6 y.o.
b. Generally, distance between 2nd deciduous molars remains unchanged between 4-6 y.o.
c. Generally, lower intercanine width also remains the same.
d. Average value of intercanine width at age of 5.5 y.o. is about 1.7mm higher than those without spacing. (1.5mm for mandibular)
4. Discussion:
a. From about the age of 4 y.o. until the eruption of the permanent molars, the sagittal dimension of the upper and lower arches remains the same. NOT A SINGLE CASE substantiated the theory that there is forward growth of the alveolar frontal sections during the period of primary dentition (which is what almost every textbook claimed at the time).
b. Only minor changes in the transverse dimensions of upper and lower deciduous arches were apparent during periods of observation (canine and molar width).
c. No increase in interdental spacing after deciduous teeth erupted. Also, no extension or expansion of arches took place between 3 and 5.5 y.o. children are either spaced or not spaced.
d. Confirmed “primate spacing.” And lack of this spacing due to insufficient alveolar growth… NOT always just large teeth. Seems to be hereditary and common among twins.
e. No essential changes in occlusion can take place during the period of the completed deciduous dentition. However, alveolar growth DOES occur.
5. Conclusion:
a. After deciduous dentition fully erupted, their sagittal and transverse dimensions were not altered except when subjected to inadequate environmental influences.
b. Arches either spread or closed. Spacing is congenital, not developmental.
c. Confirmed primate spacing.
d. Terminal plane remains constant.
e. Vertical alveolar growth concomitant with the development of successional tooth germs and sagittal growth concomitant with development of accessional tooth germ.
f. The present concept of physiological changes of the deciduous dentition through spacing and through mesial shifting of the mandibular teeth was not confirmed by the above observations.

Assessment of article: This is an old article…. not shenanigans then…. but MAY BE shenanigans now…