Page 252 - My FlipBook

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2 36 THE TREATMENT OF TEETH
re-treating of a canal depends on tlie removal of the
root-filling ; and just in proportion to the solidity of
the root-filling, and the thoroughness with which it
has been inserted, so will the difiiculties of its re-
moval be increased ; indeed in many cases its removal
is an impossibility. The writer has, on many occa-
sions, removed root-fillings for the relief of pain,
and found the canals clean and perfectly sweet.
He could attribute the trouble to no imperfection
in the root-filling, or to any decomposition in the
canals. Venting these canals gave relief, and the
teeth were afterwards satisfactorily filled as far as
absence of pain or discomfort was concerned. In
some cases the root-filling was of gutta-percha ; in
others of cotton-wool, usually smelling strongly of
.an antiseptic. These cases, in many instances, had
been originally treated and filled by other dentists,
and the patients had consulted him for relief
because they were away from home, and could
not consult their regular dentist. Personal ex-
perience, thus backed up by cases from the hands
of others, as well as a perusal of literature on
this subject from the pens of some of the most
experienced and skilful treaters of teeth and fillers
of roots in the world, makes one hesitate to use
solid root-fillings, especially after experiences of
many hours spent in removing them, and many