Page 31 - My FlipBook

THE RELIEF OF PAIN 15
useless proceeding. It is therefore an operation only
to be resorted to in the extreme cases already men-
tioned, and also where, owing to exceptional diffi-
culties of manipulation, or extraordinary resistance
of a tooth to the usual treatment, it may be the
means of preventing the extraction of a valuable
tooth. It is not, however, a very nice thing to
leave a tooth in such a condition that foul odours
escape from it into the mouth, but cases do occur
in which it is distinctly advisable to save a tooth
even if its retention demands rhizodontrophy. Not-
"svithstanding the fact that toothache, if intelligently
diagnosed, generally rapidly responds to local treat-
ment, there are cases in which systemic treatment
in addition is necessary if the patient is to be re-
lieved from pain as speedily as possible. Acute peri-
dental inflammation may also cause constitutional
disturbance which should be medically treated.
A dentist, if he thinks good, may advise patients
to take one of the ordinary household remedies,
such as a simple, innocuous purgative ; but for any-
thing beyond this they should be referred if neces-
sary to a medical practitioner.