Page 247 - My FlipBook

OF THE STATE OF THE QUMS AND SOCKETS. 231
OF THE STATE OF THE GUMS AND SOCKETS.

The first object of attention is the Sockets and Gums of
the person who is to have the fresh Tooth. If the Tooth,
which is to be removed, be not wholly diseased, there is
great probability that the Socket will be as sound and com-
plete as ever ; but if the body of the Tooth has been destroyed
some time, and the' fang has been in the state of what is
commonly called a stump, it has probably begun to decay
on its outer surface and point ; in which case the Socket
will be filled up in the same proportion ; if so, there is no
possibility of success. But as in the operation of transplanting,
the diseased Tooth is to be first drawn, it will show the state
of the Socket ; and the Scion* Tooth is to be left or drawn,
according to the appearance on the diseased one.
If the appearance be not favourable, and it therefore be
not probable that the Scion Tooth can be introduced, so as
to unite in the place of a stump, I would recommend to
every dentist to have some dead Teeth at hand that he may
have a chance to fit the Socket. I have known these some-
times last for years, especially, when well supported by the
neighbouring Teeth. Indeed this very practice is recom-
mended by some dentists in preference to the other. But
even this should not be attempted, unless the Socket is
sound and pretty large, as the Tooth can otherwise have but
very little hold.
Whenever there are Gum Boils, I would not recommend
transplanting, as there is always in such cases a diseased
Socket, although the disease has originated in the Tooth. In
one or two instances, indeed, which I have seen, the Boil has
been cured by such an operation.

* As the transplanting of Teeth is very similar to the ingrafting of
trees, I thought that term might be transferred from gardening to sur-
gery, finding no other word so expressive of the thing.