Page 153 - My FlipBook

151
they have broken off pieces of their teeth. It discolors
the teeth, giving them a black appearance. This sub-
stance is called the tartar of the teeth. It is said by Mr.
Koecker to act chemically upon the teeth, and thereby
proves a cause of superficial caries, &c. and it likewise
proves a common cause of soreness and even ulceration of
the gums. A peculiar kind of greenish tartar is often observ-
ed, oftenest on the fore part of the upper incisores. I have
thought that this was more apt to occasion caries, than the
mortar-like-tartar, which is found about the roots of the teeth.
There is no doubt but that the tartar often occasions super-
ficial caries, especially the last variety.
I should not so strongly insist upon the principle that ca-
ries of the teeth, arises in nearly all cases from exter-
nal causes, were I not certain of its truth, and were it
not of such great practical utility. It encourages both the
surgeon dentist and the patient to persevere in their efforts,
to keep the teeth perfectly clean, and to detect and relieve
the first appearance of disease. But the former principle
will lead the patient to believe, that one half the causes of
diseased teeth are out of the reach of art to prevent.

The Third Gencxal Cause of Superficial Caries
Whichwe proposed to notice, was, any cause that in any way
attenuates, weakens, or injures, or destroys the enamel of the
teeth.
When we notice that the enamel is the part of the tooth
first formed, or nearly so, that even before the young organ
has passed the gums, it is firmly encased by a coat of mail, if
I may use the expression, and when we consider that this
coat is one of the most dense, hard and impenetrable animal
substances known, that it is so hard as to give fire with the