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230 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
It sometimes happens, that the Tooth is broken, and its
point, or more of the fang is left behind, which is very often
sufficient to continue the former complaints
; and therefore it
should be extracted, if it can be done, with care. If it cannot
be extracted, the gum will in part grow over it ; and the
Alveoli will decay as far as where it is. The decaying prin-
ciple of the socket will produce the disposition to fill up at
the bottom whereby the stump will be pushed out but
;
perhaps, not till it has given some fits of the Tooth-ache.
However, this circumstance does not always become a cause
of the Tooth-ache.

TRANSPLANTING TEETH.

Although tins operation is in itself a matter of no difficulty,
yet, upon the whole, it is one of the nicest of all operations,
and requires more chirurgical and physiological knowledge
than any that comes under the care of the dentist. There
are certain cautions necessary to be observed, especially if it
be a living Tooth which is to be transplanted ; because in
that case it is meant to retain its life, and we have no great
variety of choice. Much likewise depends upon the patient
he should apply early, and give the dentist all the time he
thinks necessary to get a sufficient number of Teeth that
appear to be of a proper size, &c. Likewise he must not be
impatient to get out of his hands before it is advisable.'
The incisores, cuspidati, and bicuqndes, can alone be
changed, because they have single fangs. The success is
greatest in the incisores and cuspidati than the bicuspidcs ;
these last having frequently the ends of their fangs forked,
from winch circumstance the operation will become less
perfect.
It is hardly possible to transplant the grinders, as the
chance of fitting the sockets of them is very small. When
indeed a grinder is extracted, and the socket sound and perfect,
the dentist may, perhaps, be able to fit it by a dead Tooth.
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