Page 454 - My FlipBook

302 PATHOLOGY OF THE HABD TISSUES OF THE TEETH.
sense in biology as next to the central part or point of origin, understood, but generally not men-
tioned except in definitions. In dentistry its use is nearer the original Latin meaning of the words
from which the recent English adjective form has been derived.
Harris, in his writing, seems to have used proximal, proximate, approximate, approach, approach-
ing, etc., in phrases describing proximal surfaces, but evidently did not regard any of these as assuming
the force of nomenclature words, for he did not include any of them in his dictionary of terms.
In the literature pertaining to this, articles will be found in the Dental Cosmos, 1880, page 84
and page 139 ; 1890, page 325 ; which show in part one of the reasons for the confusion that still
exists because of the introduction of the awkward term, approximal. Personally, 1 made objection
then to the use of this term, foreseeing that it would give rise to much difficulty in compounding
terms which were sure to come with advances in dental nomenclature. In conversation with Dr.
James W. White, who was then editor of the Dental Cosmos, I obtained the history of this effort to
substitute the word approximal. After a study of this, Dr. White decided to favor this word and
applied to several persons who were then engaged in the revision of dictionaries, asking that the
word be inserted with a definition he had written. This was not granted, because there was no litera-
ture showing the use of the word. Dr. White then wrote one or more articles using the word, caused
them to be printed and presented them as evidence of its use in the literature. In this way he suc-
ceeded in having it inserted in Thomas' Medical Dictionary. It seems not to have been placed in other
dictionaries. Dr. White should be credited with an earnest endeavor to improve dental nomenclature.
I still think his choice of this word unfortunate.
The word is obnoxious because of the addition of the unnecessary syllable, ap, and particularly
so in such compounds as interproximal gum tissue, interapproximal becomes cumbersome. The fact is,
manv in the profession have held to the use of the word, proximal, in spite of every effort to displace
it. I understood the full meaning of the incongruity of the use of the word proximal after its use
in a changed signification from the Latin proximus, from next in line before or after, to next to the
central trunk. I expressed this clearly in my report on dental nomenclature to the Columbian Dental
Congress in 1893, and I continued the use of the word proximate, which had formerly been used by
the Dental Cosmos. The editor of the Dental Cosmos, after making this choice, in editing articles
for its pages changed all words used by writers and speakers to designate these surfaces to approximal.
Many others have supported this effort, and yet the word proximal has not been displaced. This evi-
dent* and persistent disposition of the dental profession to use the word, proximal, renders it the better
word in Bpite of its use in a different sense from the original Latin adjective in biology. The boot-
black makes a noun out of a verb — "Have a shine, sir," and the philologist must submit. Therefore,
in this book the word proximal has been used.
Proximal cavities. Cavities beginning in the proximal surfaces of the teeth.
As both mesial and distal cavities are included under this term, it is used only when
it is intended to include mesial and distal cavities collectively, or when the position,
mesial or distal, is not determined, or mentioned ; as proximal cavities in the incisors.
Proximal contact. The contact, or touching, of the proximal surfaces of
neighboring teeth.
Proximal surface. The surface of a tooth which lies next to another tooth,
to the mesial or to the distal.
Proximate. Formerly used instead of proximal. See Proximal.
Proximating. A tooth or portion of the surface of a tooth making near
approach to another tooth or portion of the surface of another tooth.
Proximation. The near approach, or contact, of the proximal surfaces of the
teeth.
Pulp. The soft tissue that fills the pulp chambers and root canals of the teeth.
It is the formative organ of the dentin.
Pulp canal. The central opening lengthwise in the root of a tooth leading
from the pulp chamber or bulb of the pulp in the crown portion of a tooth to the
apical end of the root. Syn. Root Canal.
Pulp chamber. The central opening in the dentin of the crown portion of a
tooth which is occupied by the pulp of the tooth. In the double and triple-rooted
teeth, the pulp chambers are very distinct from the root canals, but in teeth having
but one root the pulp chamber is not distinctly divided from the root canal.
Pulpitis. Inflammation of the dental pulp.
Putrefaction. Putrefactive fermentation. Decomposition with a foul odor
of animal or vegetable matter, effected by the action of microorganisms. The true
putrefactions occur only when oxygen is excluded, but decompositions of a somewhat
similar nature occur in the presence of oxygen.
Putrescent. A state of decomposition with emission of foul odor.