Page 176 - My FlipBook

160 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
are various ; such as Abcesses, Carious Bones, &c. ; many of
which although proceeding originally from the Teeth, are more
the object of the Surgeon than of the Dentist, who will find
himself as much at a loss in such cases, as if the Abcess or
Carious Bone were in the leg, or any other distant part. All
the diseases of the teeth which are common to them with the
other parts of the body, should be put under the management
of the Physician or Surgeon ; but those which are peculiar to
the teeth and their connections, belong properly to the Dentist.
It is not my present purpose to enumerate every disease
capable of producing such symptoms as may lead us to suspect
the Teeth ; for the jaws may be affected by almost every kind
of disorder. I shall therefore confine myself to the diseases of
the Teeth, Gums, and Alveolar Processes ; which parts having
a peculiar connection, their diseases fall properly within the
province of the Dentist. I shall also purposely avoid entering
into common Surgery ; not to lead the Dentist beyond his depth
and to matters of which it is to be supposed he has not acquired
a competent knowledge.
In order that the reader may perfectly understand what
follows it will be necessary for him previously to consider and
comprehend the anatomy and uses of every part of a Tooth, as
explained in my ' Natural History of the Human Teeth,' to
which I shall be obliged frequently to refer. Without such
previous study, the Dentist will often be at a loss to account for
many of the diseases and symptoms mentioned here, and will
retain many vulgar errors imbibed by conversing with ignorant
people or by reading books in which the anatomy and physiology
of the Teeth are treated without a sufficient knowledge of the
subject.
Whichever of the connected parts be originally diseased, the
Teeth are commonly the greatest sufferers. None of those
parts can be distempered, without Communicating to the Teeth
such morbid effects, as tend to the destruction of them.