Page 165 - My FlipBook

OF SUPERNUMERARY TEETH. 149
OF THE SENSIBILITY OF TEETH.
The Teeth would seem to be very sensible ; for they appear to
be subject to great pain, and are easily and quickly affected by
either heat or cold.
We may presume that the bony substance itself, is not
capable of conveying sensations to the mind, because it is worn
down in mastication, and occasionally worked upon by operators
in living bodies, without giving any sensation of pain in the part
itself, (n)
In the cavity of a Tooth it is well known that there is
exquisite sensibility ; and it is likewise believed, that this is
owing to the nerve in that cavity. This nerve would seem to
be more sensible than nerves are in common ; as we do not
observe the same violent effects from any other nerve in the
body being exposed either by wound, or sore, as we do from the
exposure of the nerve of a Tooth. Perhaps the reason of
the intenseness, as well as the quickness of the sense of heat
and cold in the Teeth, may be owing to their communicating
these to the nerve sooner than any other part of the body.

OF SUPERNUMERARY TEETH.
We often meet with Supernumerary Teeth ; and this, as well
as some other variations, happens oftener in the Upper than in
the Lower-Jaw, and, I believe, always in the Incisorcs and
Cuspidati. I have only met with one instance of this sort,

(re) [That the bony substance of the teeth " is itself capable of convey-
ing sensation to the mind" is, notwithstanding tha author's .presumption
to the contrary, easily proved. Whence otherwise arises that acute sen-
sation so commonly felt when the neck of a tooth is touched with the
nail or any sharp instrument, or when a portion of the enamel only is
broken from the surface of a tooth ? In the latter case every other part
of the tooth may be touched without any sensation being produced ; but
as soon as the instrument comes in contact with the denuded portion of
the bone, a painful acute sensation is instantly perceived.] T. Bell.
T