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130 Curativa Treatment of Caries.
Third—Never to file a tooth for the removal of caries, un-
less by so doing, you can extirpate the disease effectually, and
that too, without too great a sacrifice of the substance of the
tooth, and at the same time, do not injure the chance for the
operation of plugging, should circumstances subsequently re-
quire it.
Fourth—Do not file a tooth that can be better, and more
effectually treated by pluggiug.
After the observance of these rules, we would strenuously
recommend the use of the file, as soon as the least appearance
of caries can be detected ; indeed, then is the appropriate time
to use it, even while the enamel is becoming discolored, rough
and disorganized ; and the depth to which the file is to be
carried, must be regulated strictly according to the above rules
and the progress of the disease. In our humble opinion, the
file is not generally used early enough, to obtain the greatest
possible benefit from its use in arresting decay ; for we believe,
that by a timely and judicious use of it, incipient decay of the
front and of the small double teeth, may,
in the greatest
number of instances, be completely arrested.
To the above directions for filing the teeth, there is however
one exception ; and that is when a tooth by being in contiguity
with another that has been long carious, acquires by such ex-
posure, a discoloration of its enamel on the side exposed,
which may be either brown or of a very black hue, without
any apparent derangement of its structure, which occurrence
often happens. If, on examination of a tooth thus circum-
stanced, its surface be found smooth and not broken in upon,
no matter however much discolored it may be, it should not
be filed indeed, no smooth or polished
; surface of a tooth
should ever be filed : obtain and preserve a smooth surface,
and you have nothing to apprehend from external decay, even
though the enamel were removed ; indeed, this is the grand
secret for the preservation of the teeth.
It should be borne in mind, that the above rules and direc-
tions for filing the teeth, are given where filing is to be prac-