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258 PATHOLOGY OP THE HAED TISSUES OF THE TEETH.

THE CHILDHOOD PERIOD OF THE PERMANENT
TEETH.
ILLUSTRATION: FIGURE 187.
The childhood period of the permanent teeth comprises the
time from their first appearance through the gums until the
growth of their roots has been completed, exclusive of the third
molars. This includes the time from about the sixth to the
fifteenth or sixteenth year. During all of this time there will
constantly be some permanent teeth present in the mouth that
can not be treated as temporary teeth, nor as we might treat the
teeth of an adult under certain conditions brought about by
causes that may be presented. The roots of the permanent teeth
are not completed until some time after they have taken their
places in the arch. During this time of growth they are liable
to rapidly progressive caries, the pulps are much larger than
in adult life and are therefore especially liable to become exposed
by caries or in the preparation of cavities. In the event of
exposure we are debarred from removal of the pulp and making
a root filling in the tooth affected, up to the particular time of
the completion of the growth of the root and the narrowing of
its apical foramen to a very small opening. Therefore, we will
often be presented with conditions in which exposure of the pulp
of the tooth by caries means the loss of the tooth no matter how
important it may be to the future of the child. The period,
therefore, includes the consideration of the growth of the roots
of the permanent teeth and the treatment of caries to which
they are liable. It will be noticed that the childhood period of
the deciduous teeth overlaps considerably the childhood period
of the permanent teeth. But these should always be held dis-
tinctly separate in the consideration and treatment of caries,
even though the cases in each field may occur simultaneously.
Geowth of the Roots of the Permanent Teeth.
Passing to the consideration of the growth of the roots of
the permanent teeth, we will yet consider the patient a child,
although he or she may have the adult teeth.
The time of the eruption of the permanent teeth is, normally,
the same as the shedding of the deciduous teeth, but it is spec-
ially given in the figures placed below each tooth in Figure 187.