Page 118 - My FlipBook

98 Preventive Treatment of Caries.
teelh will decay in spite of art, though it may very much
retard its progress. These cases, however are very rare.
There are but two diseases fatal to the teelh, that require
consideration, in order to show the correctness of our position;
namely, caries, and disease of the gums and sockets, common-
ly called scurvy in the gum, and it will be necessary to exam-
ine these diseases, how far they may be prevented, and wheth-
er they may be effectually cured when developed. The other
diseases to which the teeth and gums are subject are compara-
tively of rare occurrence, and hence of minor importance.
The circumstances under which the teeth are most liable to
decay, the effects of which can be obviated, are the following,
and most clearly point out the means within our power to be
used for the prevention of decay.
First—The front teeth and small double teeth, when irregu-
lar or crowded together almost invariably decay : on the con-
trary, when they stand a very little asunder they rarely decay,
if kept clear of foreign matter.
Second—Teeth that are neglected, tartar and other foreign
matter allowed to collect about them, and the particles of food
lodged in their interstices during meal time, to remain and de-
compose, are more liable to decay, than those that are kept
clean and free of these destructive agents.
PREVENTIVE TREATMENT OF CARIES.
The above facts indicate at once the preventive treatment of
decay ; namely, so to manage the teeth during the second denti-
tion, that their regularity, symmetry and beauty may always
be ensured, and that they may stand a little asunder, or at
least not be crowded together ; also, that the teeth be kept
perfectly free of all foreign matter.
The means necessary to be employed in order to obtain a
regular set of teelh, have already been considered, under the
head of irregularities of the teeth. (See page 39.) Those
necessary to keep the teeth clean, will be pointed out in a
futsre chapter. ,