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196 Management of the Teeth
One thing more we have to recommend to those who are
anxious to preserve the teeth—it is this. Every person should
choose a dentist, in whose skill, integrity and fidelity, he can
place the firmest reliance, and have his mouth regularly
examined once or twice a year; once a year is, generally,
enough, but when there is a powerful predisposition in the
teeth to decay, the mouth should be examined twice a year
or oftener. There are great advantages in this procedure to
the lovers of sound teeth, for an individual seldom discovers a
tooth to be decaying, till the disease has made considerable pro-
gress, and very often not till it has progressed to the very nerves
and the pangs of tooth ache give him sad warning. Another
advantage, it costs the individual nothing more than a little
trouble, and the satisfaction of kuowing that his teeth are all
well, amply repays him.
The peculiar color of decaying teeth, always informs the
experienced eye. We have often pointed out to our patients
teeth that were decaying, especially the small double teeth,
when they, nor their friends could not perceive any symp-
toms of disease, and have gone to work boldly with^the file
to separate such teeth in order to enable us to get at the disease
for the purpose of plugging, till our distrusting patient and his
friends, saw plainly the truth of our assertions. We have
often exposed the very nerves of teeth, before we could com-
pletely extirpate the disease, in teeth that our patients never
dreamed to be decaying. These facts show the importance
of our advice; indeed, the positive necessity of its being fol-
lowed.
" The most useful advice with which I can conclude these
remarks, is to urge on every individual the necessity of aim-
ing at the prevention of disease altogether, which can in a
great measure be effected without engrossing more time than
its importance merits.
" This is a subject which demands the attention of parents,
and those we are entrusted with the care of children. It
should be the first object of every person so situated, to habit-