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teeth are irregular, carious, or have foreign matter lodged
upon them ; and observing the state of the gums, whether
in health, or not. The use of a small reflecting glass, or
mirror, will greatly facilitate the examination of the upper
teeth and gums, &c, of which the dentist may have several,
of different sizes.
Having completed our examination of the teeth, gums, &c.
which should be done with delicacy and with the utmost ur-
banity and politeness withal, we shall be able to form our
opinion of the dental operations required, if any, for the
health of the teeth, &c. Our advice should be given une-
quivocally and without reserve. If dental operations are
concluded upon, this is the order in which, if circumstan-
ces permit, we should conduct them. Firstly, however,
noticing the general health of the patient ; if a febrile and
inflammatory state of the general system is present (unless
occasioned by diseased teeth, &c.) some operations, as a gen-
eral principle, cannot, with propriety, be performed ; as, for
instance, plugging and filing the teeth ; if so, direct antifeb-
rile remedies, and when the patient is better, perform the op-
erations. But if we find no objection of this kind, our first
operation should be to remove all the dead or loose and use-
less teeth, and stumps of teeth, the manner of which has
been before pointed out. The bleeding should be favoured
by drinking warm water until it spontaneously ceases. Our
patients may now be dismissed, and directed to observe a
little precaution not to expose themselves to take cold, as in-
flammation of the jaw and swelling of integuments some-
times follow. They should be requested to call again as
soon as their gums are well, which will usually be in the
course of from six to fifteen days. At the second call we
may remove all the tartar and other foreign matter from the
teeth. We should endeavour to remove it all if circumstan-