Page 175 - My FlipBook

PART THE SECOND.

A PRACTICAL TREATISE ON THE DISEASES
OF THE TEETH.
INTRODUCTION.
The importance of the Teeth is such, that they deserve our
utmost attention, as well with respect to the preservation of
them, when in an healthy state, as to the methods of curing
them, when diseased. They require this attention, not only
for the preservation of themselves, as instruments useful to the
body, but also on account of other parts with which they are
connected ; for diseases in the Teeth are apt to produce diseases
in the neighbouring parts, frequently of very serious conse-
quences ; as will evidently appear in the following Treatise.
One might at first imagine, that the diseases of the Teeth
must be very simple, and like those which take place every
where else in the bony parts of our body; but experience
shows the contrary. The Teeth being singular in their
structure, and some other circumstances, have diseases peculiar
to themselves. These diseases, considered abstractedly, are indeed
very simple ; but by the relations which the Teeth bear to the
body in general, and to the parts with which they are immedi-
ately connected, they become extremely complicated. The
diseases which may arise in consequence of those of the Teeth,