Page 177 - My FlipBook

CHAPTER I.
OF THE DISEASES OF THE TEETH AND THE CONSEQUENCE
OF THEM.
§ 1. The decay of the teeth arising from rottenness.
The most common disease to which the Teeth are exposed,
is such a decay as would appear to deserve the name of
mortification. But there was something more ; for the simple
death of the part would produce but little effect, as we find that
Teeth are not subject to putrefaction after death ; and therefore
I am apt to suspect, that, during life, there is some operation
going on, which produces a change in the diseased part, (a) It
almost always begins externally in a small part of the body of
the tooth, and commonly appears at first as an opaque white
spot. This is owing to the enamel's losing its regular and
crystalized texture, and being reduced to a state of powder,
which pro-
from the attraction of cohesion being destroyed ;
(a) [Hunter's conjecture that other changes take place in the diseased
part besides decomposition is perfectly correct. If a section is taken of
a tooth in which caries has just commenced, and examined by the micro-
scope, the dentinal tubes corresponding to the seat of the disease will
he found more or less altered down to the pulp cavity. This part of
the dentine is more transparent than elsewhere, owing to the consolida-
tion of the tubes by the deposition ol calcareous matter. In some
instances, new dentine is also added opposite to the openings of the
dentinal tubes on the pulp surface, an evident attempt on the part of
nature to prevent the disease from penetrating to the pulp cavity. This
formation of secondary dentine, as it is sometimes termed, seems to
depend upon the rapidity with which the disease advances. If the caries
proceeds very rapidly, there does not appear to be such a condition of
the parts as to allow of its formation ; but if its progress is slow,
then new dentine will be added, the irritation caused to the pulp being
no more than excites it to increased activity.]