Page 236 - My FlipBook

moved just as far as it is softened. So that I object to
the use of the word decalcification in that connection. Now,
—
this tooth 'Central incisor—begins its absorption practically
at four years and it is ended at seven. Next the lateral
incisior begins at five and is ended at eight. Then skipping
a tooth and a number you will notice the next, the first
molar, begins at seven and is completed at ten ; the second
molar at eight and is completed at eleven, and the next,
skipping back to the cuspid, begins at nine years and is com-
pleted at twelve. Now, I think I have put that in a posi-
tion in which you can remember it. Simply remember that
in the absorption of the roots of the temporary teeth three
years is required for each tooth. Beginning at four, five,
skipping a tooth and a number, seven, eight, then going
back to the cuspid, nine ; three years occupied for each.
Now, when the absorption of the root of a tooth has
proceeded some little distance it would be improper to place
arsenic in that tooth for the purpose of destroying the pulp.
While the root is complete you may use arsenic in children
just the same as you would use arsenic in adults for destroy-
ing pulps, but you must have a care as to the time at which
you place arsenic to destroy a pulp. Furthermore, if the
root of a tooth is absorbed half way you could not make
a root filling if you did destroy and remove the pulp. You
have a wide open end of the canal with no constriction to
abut your filling ag^ainst. The case is unlit for the filling
of the root. You must be on vour guard continually as
to that. You must have in your mind a clear conception
of the conditions in the case in the placing of arsenic or in
attempting to fill roots of temporary teeth, though we may
fill the roots of temporary teeth before the absorptive process
begins, just the same as the roots in permanent teeth. The
absorptive process will go on at the proper time ; the root
filling will stand up in the tissues, produce apparently no
irritation at all and the case w^ill go on just the same as it
will in a tooth with a living pulp. I have extracted a good
many of these little molars with the three legs of the root
filling standing up that had been in the roots. So with the
incisors ; but it so happened that in my practice most of
them were molars.
Now, there is a difference in time in the absorption of

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