Page 134 - My FlipBook

114 Curative Treatment of Caries.
while others do not experience the least pain. We have fre-
quently exposed the very nerves of teeth, much decayed, and
even wounded them during operations, yet the patient has de-
clared that he did not suffer. Indeed, so great is the difference
in the sensibility of the teeth, that the feelings of the patient
form no criterion, by which the dentist judges how far it is
safe to proceed without danger of exposure of the nerve. He
is guided in his operation, b}' the anatomy of the tooth and its
appearance.
Much also depends upon the operator himself. We know
from experience, as well as from ubundent observation, that a
careless and rough operator inflicts much more pain, than a
careful and dexterous one.
That the dread of pain of dental operations should deter per-
sons (as it often does,) from having them performed, when
convinced of their utility and necessity, is unfortunate for them,
nay, foolish. If they were ten times as painful as they really
are, it would have little influence with a resolute person, who
values his teeth and dreads tooth ache.
" A stitch in lime saves nine," is an old and vulgar adage.
We know nothing, to which it can be applied with more force,
than to the management of the teeth in every respect from in-
fancy to old age.
OP A FIT STATE OF THE MOUTH FOR THE PERFORM-
ANCE OF OPERATIONS ON THE TEETH FOR THE
CURE OF CARIES.
The following observations of Mr. Koecker, are in our opin-
ion very judicious:
" To render the operation of stopping the teeth certain of
success, it is indispensibly necessary to remove every local
exciting cause of inflammation, especially every disease of the
mouth that might be considered the principal exciting cause of
the local maladies of the teeth, before undertaking the ope-
ration of plugging the affected teeth.
" When the parts in immediate connexion with (he teeth, such