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io8 THE TREATMENT OF TEETH
materials, although they may not last so long, and
in the latter there is every risk of the work being
imperfectly done, and the result consequently un-
satisfactory. Therefore the first consideration, if
gold is to be used, is " a good patient." The next
consideration is what may be called a fairly healthy
mouth. Whenever there are evidences which point
to the existence of a period of rampant decay, it is
well to resort to more palliative work. It is a
curious fact, but one that will have been often
observed by dentists of experience, that under
certain conditions, the more temporary materials,
such as white cement and guttapercha, will save
teeth far better than gold. Decay will readily
attack the margins of the gold fillings, whereas the
margins of white cement or guttapercha will fre-
quently remain intact until these fillings are con-
siderably worn away. A regular replacement of
these temporary materials as soon as necessary,
will often succeed in preserving teeth indefinitely,
in mouths where, owing to frequent replacement of
gold, and continual re-excavation, the teeth soon
pass to the crowning stage. It is also as a rule
inadvisable to use gold if a tooth has recently
ached, and pulp-destruction is not resorted to, or if
any diseased condition of the peridental membrane
is suspected or has recently been treated. The