Page 183 - My FlipBook

181

the nerve as, by frequent inflammation, acute and chronic, to
cause its death. In this case, if the tooth retains its strength
and stability to a considerable extent, and its root is sound,
so as to be useful, as it may be in some cases, we may plug
it, and it will often be useful for many years.

Deep-Seated Caries, or Caries proceeding from Internal
Disease.
I am not aware that any author mentions any treatment
for the cure of this disease, different from that of simple ca-
ries, nor do I know that any treatment is necessary, but after
the bony abscess has burst out, as Mr. Koecker says it always
will before it affects the membrane; but Mr. Fox says it
affects in some cases the nerve before it appears outwardly.
I leave the decision to others, for my part I do not think that
deep-seated caries, occurs in more than one case of one
thousand diseased teeth. The cure is the same as any ca-
ries, that of cleaning out the cavity, and if sufficiently deep,
to plug it with gold.
To complete the subject of the treatment of carious teeth
in general, I remark, that if the crowns of the grinding
teeth, are so much decayed, as not to admit of a cure by the
use of a plug, &c. they should be extracted ; for if left, they
usually exert a most baneful influence upon the remaining
sound teeth, and upon the breath and health of the individu-
al ; and if the stumps of the front teeth are so far decayed
as not to be useful, or if they affect the breath, health, &c.
they should be extracted.