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METHODS OF FILLING TEETH.
52
it is doubtful whether there are any conditions in which it is to be pre-
ferred to oxyphosphate. By some, however, it is earnestly claimed
that if a plastic of this form must be used where erosions have occurred,
the oxychloride will serve better than the oxyphosphate. This is a
statement which may be true, but as yet it has not been proven. It
may be true, but before it can be known to be true it must be ex-
plained why it should be so. This will not be possible until the
of erosion is less shrouded in than it is at
etiology mystery present.
a
One claim advanced is that the chloride of zinc, being powerful
germicide, is advantageous. Before we may depend upon oxychloride
for the reason that chloride of zinc is it must be
fillings germicidal,
shown that this action continues even after union with the oxide into a
mass. it must be proven that there is a relation be-
solidified Again,
tween bacteria and erosion, and the special bacterium must be isolated.
Then it must be shown that the oxychloride filling placed in a cavity
will cause a resistance to the erosive action which may result from the
presence of the bacterium. Meanwhile it is hazardous to depend upon
oxychloride as a permanent filling in cavities near the gum-line. In-
numerable instances have been reported and observed where in such
positions a seemingly well-made filling has become wholly disinte-
not around it, but
grated, only allowing decay apparently itself decay-
ing. As this special case, for which this material has been advocated,
demand its use, it would
does not really perhaps be better to depend
upon oxyphosphate where a plastic for a permanent purpose must be
used.
Another advantage which this material is said to possess is the
power to excite the tooth-pulp toward the production of secondary
dentine. The idea is that in deep cavities where the pulp has been
nearly approached, but not fully exposed, if oxychloride be placed as
a capping, its therapeutic action will result in a deposition of secondary
dentine by the pulp, so that the distance between the pulp itself and
the bottom of the cavity is materially increased. Were this the case it
would be most fortuitous, for no capping can be so good as tooth-bone
itself. That a pulp has the power thus to protect itself is undoubtedly
admitted, but I think I am safe in saying that it is a physiological
action, rather than pathological. Under the slow wasting away occa-
sioned by erosion, this new barrier is thrown out so that the pulp is con-
stantly protected from the invasion. Erosive action has seldom been
known to expose a living pulp, but we frequently see erosions which
have passed beyond the original limits of the pulp-chamber, and into
the new dentine which the pulp had formed as a protection. The
question arises, whether an oxychloride filling can induce the same
result ? The difficulty of proof lies in this, that where it did accom-
plish this, there would be little temptation to remove the filling or the
52
it is doubtful whether there are any conditions in which it is to be pre-
ferred to oxyphosphate. By some, however, it is earnestly claimed
that if a plastic of this form must be used where erosions have occurred,
the oxychloride will serve better than the oxyphosphate. This is a
statement which may be true, but as yet it has not been proven. It
may be true, but before it can be known to be true it must be ex-
plained why it should be so. This will not be possible until the
of erosion is less shrouded in than it is at
etiology mystery present.
a
One claim advanced is that the chloride of zinc, being powerful
germicide, is advantageous. Before we may depend upon oxychloride
for the reason that chloride of zinc is it must be
fillings germicidal,
shown that this action continues even after union with the oxide into a
mass. it must be proven that there is a relation be-
solidified Again,
tween bacteria and erosion, and the special bacterium must be isolated.
Then it must be shown that the oxychloride filling placed in a cavity
will cause a resistance to the erosive action which may result from the
presence of the bacterium. Meanwhile it is hazardous to depend upon
oxychloride as a permanent filling in cavities near the gum-line. In-
numerable instances have been reported and observed where in such
positions a seemingly well-made filling has become wholly disinte-
not around it, but
grated, only allowing decay apparently itself decay-
ing. As this special case, for which this material has been advocated,
demand its use, it would
does not really perhaps be better to depend
upon oxyphosphate where a plastic for a permanent purpose must be
used.
Another advantage which this material is said to possess is the
power to excite the tooth-pulp toward the production of secondary
dentine. The idea is that in deep cavities where the pulp has been
nearly approached, but not fully exposed, if oxychloride be placed as
a capping, its therapeutic action will result in a deposition of secondary
dentine by the pulp, so that the distance between the pulp itself and
the bottom of the cavity is materially increased. Were this the case it
would be most fortuitous, for no capping can be so good as tooth-bone
itself. That a pulp has the power thus to protect itself is undoubtedly
admitted, but I think I am safe in saying that it is a physiological
action, rather than pathological. Under the slow wasting away occa-
sioned by erosion, this new barrier is thrown out so that the pulp is con-
stantly protected from the invasion. Erosive action has seldom been
known to expose a living pulp, but we frequently see erosions which
have passed beyond the original limits of the pulp-chamber, and into
the new dentine which the pulp had formed as a protection. The
question arises, whether an oxychloride filling can induce the same
result ? The difficulty of proof lies in this, that where it did accom-
plish this, there would be little temptation to remove the filling or the
