Combined orthodontic and restorative treatment of malformed premolars.

This case of small malformed maxillary second premolars was treated without loss of teeth, without apparent compromise of periodontal health, and without major compromise of occlusion. A combination of orthodontic positioning of the teeth and recontouring with restorative dental treatment produced an expedient result that was esthetically pleasing as well as functional, biologically acceptable, and stable.

Chewing patterns in normal children.

Chewing patterns are precisely plotted in deciduous, mixed and permanent dentitions. These show a progression from a large component in the opening movement with a more medial closing path in the deciduous dentition, to a more vertical overall pattern with the closing path lateral to the opening path in the early permanent dentition.