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MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN'S TEETH. 257
provided the absorption of the roots has not begun. That must
be looked into carefully, but if the child is brought at an age
when the absorption of the roots has begun, there is practically
no alternative but to extract the tooth or cut away the pulp by
the use of cocaine and fill the remaining portion of the canal,
running the risk of alveolar abscess. It is generally best to
extract the tooth as the alternative, notwithstanding the injury
that is liable to result. "We are presented with conditions in
which we are unable to do anything else, and we should not try
to do the impossible. Wherever the age of the child will allow,
carefully destroy these pulps and fill the roots, and in this way
preserve the teeth. That operation has been done sufficiently to
fully test its merits, and we know that it is as successful as it is
with the teeth of the adult, provided we use sufficient caution as
to the time at which it is done.
It should be remembered always that success in the treat-
ment of these teeth depends on the same care as the treatment
of the teeth of the adult. The fact that they are to serve only
for a short time is fully counterbalanced by the other fact that the
tendency to caries is much greater in the child ; so that because
of any little neglect in operating, decay will recur more rapidly
and the fillings will be more quickly undermined and destroyed.
For this reason, careful attention should be given to every detail
of the operations upon them.