Congenital Fusion of the Gums

Abstract
NO MENTION is made of congenital fusion of the gums in two recent texts1,2 nor is it described in texts on embryology,3 pediatrics,4 or pediatric pathology.5 The patient described in this report had bilateral partial fusion of the gums which was present at birth. The temporomandibular joints could not be clearly identified roentgenographically, and operation revealed bilateral fibrous ankyloses. Report of a Case A Bantu boy, age 3 weeks, was admitted to a pediatric ward at the Pretoria General Hospital, from a mission hospital where he was seen on the second day after birth. The mother noticed that he would not or could not take the breast, and brought him to the hospital. Expressed milk feedings were given through a nasogastric tube. The baby had been born at home while three "mothers" of the tribe gave "moral" but no physical assistance during the first and second

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