Page 250 - My FlipBook

234 HUNTER ON THE TEETH.
To remedy this inconvenience as much as possible, the Scion
Tooth should be that of a female, for female Teeth are in gene-
ral smaller than those of men ; but the inconvenience still
remains, whenever a female is the subject of this operation.
Some women have such small Teeth that it is almost impos-
sible to fit them. When the fang of the Scion Tooth is
larger than that which it is intended to supply, it must be
made smaller, and only in that part where it exceeds. But
the necessity of this should be avoided, if possible ; for a
Tooth that is filed has lost all those inequalities which allow
it to be held much faster. If, however, some part must be
removed, it should be done so as to imitate the old Tooth as
much as possible. The best remedy is to have several people
ready, whose Teeth in appearance are fit ; for if the first will
not answer, the second may. I am persuaded this operation
has failed from a Tooth being forced in too tight ; for let us
reflect what must be the consequence of such practice. A
part of the soft covering of the Tooth, or lining of the
Socket, is squeezed between two hard bones, so that all cir-
culation of juices is prevented a mortification in that part
;
takes place ; and in consequence of that a Gum Boil, and the
loss of all union between Tooth and Socket ; so that the
Tooth drops out.
It will be hardly necessary to mention, that the sooner the
Scion Tooth is put into its place the better, as delay will per-
petually lessen the power upon which the union of the two
parts depends.*
OF REPLACING A SOUND TOOTH, WHEN DRAWN BY
MISTAKE.
It sometimes happens, that a Tooth is drawn on an idea

* Vide Natural History of Teeth, pages 156, 157, for an ex-
planation of the principle upon which the success of this operation
depends.