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EXAMINATIONS OF THE MOUTH. 185
from the pulp of a tooth shift, for both are apt to do this, but gen-
erally the neuralgia has not the thermal sensitiveness that occurs
in hyperemia of the dental pulp. In neuralgia the pain is more
likely to be excited by some movement of the jaws or touch upon
the tissues of the face or gums. It is occasionally very difficult
to arrive at a final judgment between these two causes of pain.
The diagnosis of erosion must be made by following the indi-
cations given in the presentation of that subject. The diagnosis
of atrophy becomes so simple after one has seen a number of
cases that it is readily made by following the indications given
in the treatment of that subject. Pits appearing in abnormal
positions in the enamel of the teeth should be very easy of deter-
mination as to their character after a few of these have been
noted. They generally require no especial attention unless decay
has actually started in them.
Although the treatment of pathological conditions of the
dental pulp and of the peridental membranes are not included in
the scope of this book, the recognition of these conditions is nec-
essary in determining the course to be pursued in filling teeth,
and for that reason their determination is necessary.
In all cases the condition of the gingival margins, or free
margins of the gums, which overlap the gingival portion of the
enamel, should have careful attention, because of the frequency
of disease beginning at this position, which rapidly diminishes
the strength of the peridental membranes. Any abnormal condi-
tion of these parts that may appear to the eye, or of sensitiveness,
should lead to close scrutiny. In this it must not be forgotten
that there may be an abnormal degree of sensitiveness of the
peridental membranes that arises from lack of use of the teeth.
This is generally common to all of the teeth. The conditions
found vary considerably
(1.) There may be a slight swelling of the festoons of the
gingivae between two or more teeth, while all other parts of the
gum tissues are normal. In many cases this will be found to have
been caused by leakage of food into the interproximal space in
chewing food, and demands such examination as will reveal the
cause and lead to its correction. Neglect of this condition even
in cases in which the patient makes no complaint of pain from
lodgments of food, often leads to serious conditions.
(2.) There may be a general redness of the gingiva? arising
from some morbid systemic condition, usually of little moment,
the correction of which generally requires little else than careful
cleaning until the general condition causing it passes away. It
EXAMINATIONS OF THE MOUTH. 185
from the pulp of a tooth shift, for both are apt to do this, but gen-
erally the neuralgia has not the thermal sensitiveness that occurs
in hyperemia of the dental pulp. In neuralgia the pain is more
likely to be excited by some movement of the jaws or touch upon
the tissues of the face or gums. It is occasionally very difficult
to arrive at a final judgment between these two causes of pain.
The diagnosis of erosion must be made by following the indi-
cations given in the presentation of that subject. The diagnosis
of atrophy becomes so simple after one has seen a number of
cases that it is readily made by following the indications given
in the treatment of that subject. Pits appearing in abnormal
positions in the enamel of the teeth should be very easy of deter-
mination as to their character after a few of these have been
noted. They generally require no especial attention unless decay
has actually started in them.
Although the treatment of pathological conditions of the
dental pulp and of the peridental membranes are not included in
the scope of this book, the recognition of these conditions is nec-
essary in determining the course to be pursued in filling teeth,
and for that reason their determination is necessary.
In all cases the condition of the gingival margins, or free
margins of the gums, which overlap the gingival portion of the
enamel, should have careful attention, because of the frequency
of disease beginning at this position, which rapidly diminishes
the strength of the peridental membranes. Any abnormal condi-
tion of these parts that may appear to the eye, or of sensitiveness,
should lead to close scrutiny. In this it must not be forgotten
that there may be an abnormal degree of sensitiveness of the
peridental membranes that arises from lack of use of the teeth.
This is generally common to all of the teeth. The conditions
found vary considerably
(1.) There may be a slight swelling of the festoons of the
gingivae between two or more teeth, while all other parts of the
gum tissues are normal. In many cases this will be found to have
been caused by leakage of food into the interproximal space in
chewing food, and demands such examination as will reveal the
cause and lead to its correction. Neglect of this condition even
in cases in which the patient makes no complaint of pain from
lodgments of food, often leads to serious conditions.
(2.) There may be a general redness of the gingiva? arising
from some morbid systemic condition, usually of little moment,
the correction of which generally requires little else than careful
cleaning until the general condition causing it passes away. It
