[Proprioceptive sensitivity and orofacial functions]. / Sensibilité proprioceptive et fonctions oro-faciales.

Proprioceptive sensibility from stimulation of muscle, ligament articular and vestibular receptors plays a determining role in the regulation of tone, of the resting position of the mandible, of head posture and of the closure pathway of the mandible. Studies conducted on temporomandibular joints of fetuses and adult subjects failed to demonstrate the specialized corpuscles (a fact previously noted by Ramfjord) in the temporomaxillary joint capsule, described typically in other joints. In contrast, however, histology showed a particularly rich population of muscle receptors adjacent to this joint, this being only one of several particular characteristics.

[Critique of the interpretation of Angle's classification]. / Critique de l'interprétation de la classification d'Angle.

Physiological mesiodistal inclinations of the permanent first molars are now well recognized. These inclinations can be measured without difficulty on a lateral teleradiographic image of the head. Several cases are reported where anatomical normality of articulation of the molars did not correspond with physiological normal limits.

[Pathogenesis of spontaneous late changes in the dental arches]. / Pathogénie des modifications tardives spontanées des arcades dentaires.

During childhood and adolescent years, the buccal musculature characteristics as well as the anatomical relation between the lips and the incisors, change. The consequence of these maturation phenomena is the retroclination of the incisors. In certain cases, this results in a decrease of the dental arches' length which is sufficient to create those belated dental malpositionings due to lack of space.

[Growth of the jaws and anisochronia of bone growth]. / Croissance des maxillaires et anisochronie de la croissance osseuse.

Teleradiographic recordings were employed to compare growth of maxillary skeleton and changes in dental systems. Facial growth occurs at a constant rate during the period when growth in stature is firstly slowed, and then accelerates with the approach of puberty. Growth rates of different parts of the skeleton are not parallel and the face is not involved in the prepubertal acceleration in statural growth. In contrast, puberty affects the adaptation of the dental system to its maxillary insertion bases by its action on buccal musculature.

[Statistical study of alveolar process inclination. Analysis of results of teleradiographic examinations of the head, in sagittal and vertical projection, in 1 600 children referred for consultation in a specialised dentofacial orthopedic unit (author's transl)]. / Etude statistique de l'inclinaison des procés alvéolaires. Analyse des téléradiographies de la tête en incidences sagittale et verticale de 1 600 enfants adressés à une consultation spécialisée d'orthopédie dento-faciale.

For 1 600 children sent to a dental facial orthopedics consultation, the vestibulo lingual inclination of the incisors and molars was measured on two cephalograms of the head, the first one in profile, the second in vertical incidence, the X-Rays being perpendicular to the plane of the biting surfaces of the molar teeth. A statistical analysis was realized on the dental inclination previously observed in order to precise the frequency and amplitude of each anomaly, test their associations and evoke their muscular causes.

[Maxillomandibular dysfunction (author's transl)]. / A propos des dysharmonies maxillo-mandibulaires.

After 7 years, mandibular growth is on the average over three times the deepening of the upper maxilla's. The exact superimposing of X-rays taken of the same child at different ages makes it possible to observe relationships varying widely from this average. The greatness of these individual variations is a supplementary proof in favour of the autonomy of mandibular growth with respect to that of the rest of the facial mass.

[Psychology and dentofacial orthopedics. Apropos of various results]. / Psychologie et orthopédie dento-faciale. A propos de quelques résultats.

What should be done about the child who sucks his thumb? If the child has no dento-maxillary deformity, he should be left to suck his thumb. In the presence of deformities, it would seem wise not to interfere before the age of 6 or 7 years. Firstly, the majority of thumb suckers abandon this behavior spontaneously between 3 and 7 years, and secondly it is only at the age of 6 years that the milk teeth begin to be replaced by the adult dentition. An early intervention has the risk of being ineffective or even of reinforcing the habit and leading to other problems. After 7 years, the child with deformities should be examined and in the absence of an psychological contraindication, "invigoration psychotherapy" should be undertaken in order to put a stop to the thumb sucking habit. Finally, when the 8 year old continues to suck his thumb despite psychotherapy by the psychologist or the stomatologist, the advice of a child psychiatrist must be sought in order to determine whether the symptom which the habit represents should be disturbed or not.

[Reflexions on labial topography]. / Réflexion sur la topographie labiale

The musculature of the lips contributes to oro-facial muscular equilibrium. Labial topography at rest is extremely variable, as there may be gaping of the lips with a short upper lip and associated protrusion of the upper alveolar process, as well as on the contrary an upwardly displaced stoma leading to incarceration of the upper dental arch by the lower lip and retrocession of the laveolar process (stoma syndrome). Anomalies at rest justify surgical treatment.

[Semiologic significance of Angle's classifications]. / Valeur sémiologique des classes d'Angle

Study of profile teleradiographies and the inclination of the molars in relation to the lateral occlusal plane, make it possible to distinguish various types of Angle's classification: 1. those associated with displacement, 2. those resulting from dento-maxillary disharmony, 3. those resulting from a dento-dental or temporary disharmony, 4. those connected with abnormality of the occlusal path. Examination of the contact of the arches is not then sufficient to establish a diagnosis.

[Is it possible to make a diagnosis on only the morphological appearance in a child? Importance of complementary examinations in dentofacial orthopedics]. / Peut-on faire un diagnostic sur le seul aspect morphologique d'un enfant. Importance des examens complémentaires en orthopédie dento-faciale

Orthodontic diagnosis cannot be made from the morphological appearance of the patient alone. The skeleton cannot be seen except by radiography. And the positioning of the dental system within the cranio-facial mass depends on the caprice of the musculature which may even simulate displacement of mandible in connection to maxillae. It is to illustrate this fact that we have selected from the Orthodontic Dept. of the Institute of Stomatology the cases of 3 children presenting with an abnormality in incisal contact, characterized by vestibular occlusion of the lower incisors clinically reminiscent of mandibular prognathism. In all of them we found evidence of abnormalities in neuro-muscular behaviour, at rest and in action, whilst teleradiography showed only one case with sagittal displacement of the maxillae, with a Coutand guide mark 9 mm below the bissector.