Page 401 - My FlipBook

397

which we have removed the carious portions. Perhaps I
ought to remark that if we file between the teeth, we ought
to preserve, as nearly as possible, the shape of the tooth, by
carrying the file parallel with the edges of the sides of the
teeth, and never gouge or cut out portions from the sides of
the teeth with round files or three cornered ones ; if we wish
to remove a considerable of the tooth, the better way will
be to file the front edge of the tooth, in a handsome manner,
that is, straight, up and down ; and if we wish to remove
any more, to cut away the posterior plate of the enamel, and
then, with the same instrument, remove all the carious bone
of the tooth. In this way we shall preserve the beauty of
the tooth, and at the same time remove the carious portion.
I will mention the following case to show the want of correct
views on this subject, which are occasionally seen. Mrs.
S , called on me in April 1827, with her daughter, an
amiable young lady, aged about eleven years, and requested
my advice respecting the daughter's teeth, and remarked that
the incisores had been filed by a dentist of this city, in con-
sequence of their being carious. I examined them, and
found that the dentist, instead of attempting to preserve the
shape and beauty of the teeth, had cut one of her lateral
upper incisors nearly half off with a three cornered file, and
other ways injured the teeth, by the improper use of this in-
strument. I restored the teeth to health by plugging them
with gold, &c.