Page 40 - My FlipBook

24 THE TREATMENT OF TEETH —
adherent to the root and project so little that there
is the greatest possibility of the instrument slipping
over them without the operator being conscious of
their presence. This may to a great extent be
avoided by using the No. 4 Allport scaler (Fig. 1).
This instrument—or some similar one
should be inserted as deeply as possible
into the pocket, and the cutting edge made
to bite into the cementum, so that the root
itself as well as the tartar is scraped. The
root is denuded of periosteum where this
tartar is deposited, and the slight scraping
of the cementum will do no harm, and is
infinitely preferable to leaving particles of
^'^' ^-
tartar, for where any of these are left the
parts rarely, if ever, improve.
When the deposits are removed, and, if neces-
sary, the teeth are firmly braced by ligatures
or an appliance, the pockets and edges of the gum
should be treated with escharotics, antiseptics, or
astringents as may seem good. Chloride of zinc, in
proportionate strength to the requirements of the
case, is a most valuable remedy, as it combines all
the desired properties, e.g., it is an escharotic, an
astringent, and an antiseptic, and can be used full
strength or diluted as the circumstances of the case
demand. In full strength, or approaching this, it