Page 272 - My FlipBook

240 INFECTIONS OF THE PERI-APICAL TISSUES

appetite, debility, night sweats, loss of weight, low fever
(ioo°F.), or sub-normal temperature. Many cases of this
kind have been cured by the removal of infections in the

mouth, either through thorough sterilization and filling of
root canals, treatment of chronic alveolar abscesses, extrac-
tion of the affected teeth, removal of the tonsils, eradication
of pyrrohea pockets, treatment of antral disease, abandon-
ment of faultily constructed crowns and bridges and other

sources of infection.
It is then highly important for the dentist to fully realize
the great significance of the bearing which his root canal
operations may have on the health and even life of his pa-

tient. It is, however, equally important for him to recognize
the fact that the above mentioned disturbances may, in

many instances, have no connection whatever with oral
conditions, but may be due to entirely different causes, viz.,
the focus of infection producing the disturbance may be
situated in an entirely different part of the body. The
significance of conditions of this nature was not fully ap-

preciated by either the medical or the dental profession until
recently. A full realization of their import has often resulted
in the adoption of extremely radical measures for their relief
by many men in both professions, with the result that thou-

sands of teeth have been needlessly and ruthlessly sacrificed
during the past few years through the extraction operation.
The radical element in the medical profession has been es-
pecially guilty in this regard, referring patients to the ex-
odontist whenever they were unable to discover other causes
for systemic disturbances, and not realizing or recognizing the

full importance of the necessity for the retention of the teeth
for preservation of the continuity of the arch. A similar
class of dental practitioners, prone to enthusiastically sub-
scribe to new fads, has been equally guilty, with the result