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^56 PLANTATION OF TEETH.

General Considerations.
Asepsis.—The operations descrilxd in tliis (•lia])ter must always be
performed under perfect aseptic conditions ; that is, the hands and
person, instruments and other accessories, the tooth about to be phmted,
iind the field of surgical operation, must be maintained in a clean,
aseptic condition.
Any of the usual, accepted methods can be resorted to. As a rule,
however, the drugs selected for this purpose should not be of an irri-
tating natiu'c. For the hands and person, pure soap followed by a 5
per cent, solution of carbolic acid is sufficient. The instruments and
other accessories can be kept free from inoculating bacteria by the use
of pyrozone, formalin, euth ymol, or a 5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid.
The use of bichlorid of mercury in the proportion of 1 part to 2000 of
water is also permissible, although it is not as advisable on account of
its irritating nature. The sterilization of the tooth about to be planted
differs according to circumstances. A tooth whose source is unknown,
and which has been kept in a dry state for a long period, will not be
benefited by being placed into an antiseptic solution until just prior to
the time when it is to be used. Hence dry teeth can be kept in any
clean box covered with clean cotton until they are ready for use. After
the necessary preparation hereinafter described, the dry tooth should be
placed in a solution of glycerol and carbolic acid (about 5 per cent, of
the latter), and just before using, it can be placed in a pyrozone solu-
tion or in a solution of carbolic acid and water. Freshly extracted teeth
should, of course, have their pulp chambers and root canals cleansed
and hermetically sealed, and then be placed at once in fluid, preferably
in glycerol to which a few drops of carbolic acid have been added.
The field of operation may be quickly sterilized and cleansed of
adhering mucus by mopping the surface with a ball of cotton saturated
with hydrogen dioxid 3 per cent, solution just previous to operating.
It is, of course, of exceeding importance that the socket into which
a tooth is about to be planted shall be free from disease germs or
bacteria. As a general rule flowing blood is the best of antiseptics,
washing away any bacteria which may become lodged from external
sources, hence so long as a socket is constantly being filled with flow-
ing blood during an operation, but little further care need be bestowed
upon it. As a general rule the socket and the tissues surrounding it
will react more quickly after operation the less the medication has been
;
hence the very slightest and mildest of antiseptics are indicated. Zinc
chlorid 2 to 5 grains to the ounce of lukewarm water, hydrogen dioxid
3 per cent., or the 5 per cent, solution of carbolic acid in lukewarm
water, give most satisfactory results. These solutions will be found
quite sufficient to maintain the field of surgical operation aseptic.