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212 THE TREATMENT OT PULPS

slightest amount of pressure, so that during the treatment of
these conditions, great delicacy of touch and the absolute
avoidance of pressure is essential.
Adoption of Aseptic Precautions.—Owing to the fact that
the saliva and the decay present in cavities are highly infected

with germs, whenever an exposure of
the pulp occurs, these germs enter the
pulp chamber and infect the pulp tissue,
producing what is known as a Septic
condition. The pulp is infected, then,

in all cases of pulp exposure, and there
is also a possibility of these germs enter-
ing to the pulp through thin layers of
Fig. 258.—Bicuspid rubber dentin in the floor of cavities, by way
dam clamps.
of the dentinal tubules, even in those
cases in which the pulp is not exposed. In the conditions

of Suppuration and Moist Gangrene, highly infective micro-
organisms are always present. This being the case, it becomes
necessary in treating these conditions in the mouth to adopt
measures to prevent, as far as possible,

the entrance of these germs, by abso-
lutely and permanently excluding the
saliva from the cavity; or, in case the
germs are already present, to destroy
them by the application of certain drugs
known as Antiseptics and Germicides,

which will either inhibit their further
growth or totally destroy them. These Fig. 5Q.—Bicuspid rubber
dam clamps.
measures are known as Aseptic Pre-
cautions, because they prevent or relieve the septic condi-

tion, and consist of the application of the rubber dam in all
cases (Figs. 258, 259, also see Figs. 115 and 116), and the use
of antiseptics on the tissues being operated upon, as well as
on the instruments used.