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ALLEVIATION OF DENTAL PAINS 179

Pericemental Diseases Causing Pain have for their most path-
ognomonic symptom the soreness to percussion, as shown by gently
tapping on the occlusal surface of the tooth with a steel instru-
ment. Slight swelling of the pericementum causes the tooth to ap-
pear to the patient as much elongated and the patient will generally
make such remarks as these, "I have a sore tooth;" ''It hurts to
close my teeth;" ''My tooth is too long," etc.
If the pulp is entirely dead, and removed, or there is not a case
of enclosed putrescence, thermal changes will have no effect, except
in rare cases warmth applied to the parts will give a slight sense of
relief.
Treatment for the Relief of Pericemental Pains is the thorough
and complete removal of the cause, generally consisting of necrotic
pulp tissue, and infectious matter in the pulp chamber. This should
be thoroughly removed by mechanical means, assisted by the use of
chemicals, and the entire chamber from crown to apex rendered
aseptic as soon as possible.
If Pus Has Formed at the apical space and flows freely down the
root canal temporary relief is most certain to follow if the case is
allowed to remain open for twenty-four or forty-eight hours for
free drainage, when further treatment may be proceeded with.
Acute Alveolar Abscesses should be opened externally, as soon
as the presence of pus can be diagnosed, this to be done external to
the alveolar wall and is least painfully done by freezing the tissues
to be punctured.
Abscesses Are Assisted to the Surface by painting the mucous
membrane over the diseased portion with aconite and iodine. In no
case should such an abscess, no matter what its size, be lanced through
the external surface of the face as all are easily reached from within
the mouth.