Page 246 - My FlipBook

2 30 THE TREATMENT OF TEETH
it a ball of cotton-wool saturated with the oil,
and fill with temporary gutta-percha, making two
or three small holes through the filling to the
cotton-wool for the escape of the gases of putre-
faction. At the second sitting, the canals are
partially or wholly cleansed and the oil worked
down them, taking care to avoid pumping it through
the apex, as it is very irritating, and proceed as
before. At the third sitting, complete the cleansing
of the canals (if it has not been done at the previous
sitting), place twists of cotton-wool saturated (but
not dripping) with the oil loosely in them (if the
canals are large enough), and complete as before,
only this time make no holes in the filling. If the
tooth is perfectly comfortable for three days, the
roots may be filled, and the case completed.
Should any trouble arise between the third
treatment and the completion of the case (which
will rarely happen unless the oil has been forced
through the apex), making one or more holes through
the gutta-percha gives relief. This simply means
that the tooth is not thoroughly sterilised, and one
or two more dressings will be necessary. One
^ great advantage of these oils is that they arc more
permanent or persistent in their action than many
other remedies. Many germicides act while they
are being applied, and for a short time afterwards,