Page 248 - My FlipBook

away the angle of the tooth and make straight (making
drawing on board). Let that represent the Httle incisor; it has
a cavity that is penetrating its mesial surface (indicating), a
little cavi/ty. In making these cuts it is important to note
the poisition of the gum, and never, if you can avoid it, cut to
the gingiva, so that gum tissue will overlap into the cut sur-
face, for it will make a little pocket in which it will be very
difficult tO' prevent decay starting. For instance, the gum tis-
sue comes down and rounds off here (indicating), rounding
the gingival portion to^ the surface of the enamel. We may

cut that in that way and file the rest away and let the teeth
stand apart. The other incisor s'tands here (indicating). If
that is decayed also' cut that in the same way, leaving a broad
opening between the teeth. The little fellows, unless there is
something especially to prevent them, are good feeders and
will bite through foodstufTf enough to keep those spaces pretty
well cleaned. Now when you have cut them in that way and
there is still some decay that has not been removed we will
not attempt to excavate it at all, but we will treat it with sil-
ver nitrate. After you have done your cutting, slip the rub-
ber dam over the teeth and put onto that decayed area the
strongest possible solution of silver nitate and hold it in posi-
tion some ten minutes ; then wash it away lightly, just enough
so that you will be in no danger of staining the lips with it.
Remove your rubber dam aind let it stand. Repeat that opera-
tion about three times at intervals of three or four days in
each case. At the end of this time you ought to get a full
black color of all of the d'entin that is exposed, and just so
long as that full black color remains you will have no more
decay of that surface. Generally, decay is effectually stopped
in this way, provided the surface is such that it can be kept
fairly clean. In this treatment you will escape most of the
painful part of the operation in the treatment of these cases,
foir the little filing that is tO' be done will generally not be
very painful. Now, this is applicable to the proximate sur-
faces of incisors and cuspids, and to labial cavities. The labial
cavities we cannot cut away very connpletely, but we can
break away the enamel and smooth it so as to make these
depressions as smooth as possible and then treat them in the
same way, and by proper instructions to parents, they may
be kept clean by brushing, and the little teeth, although muti-
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