Page 143 - My FlipBook

REMOVAL OF DECAY. 139

however, some variety of opinion upon this subject.
This difference of opinion is in regard to cases where
an entire or a partial decomposition of the dentine
has taken place quite to the pulp, where, by its
removal, the pulp would be exposed. It is main-
tained by some that decayed dentine affords a better

protection to the pulp than any artificial covering;
and hence it is better to let it remain, since its
adaptation is more complete ; and it is not in every
sense a foreign substance.
On the other hand, it is contended that the de-
cayed dentine, being in an abnormal condition, will
irritate, and in many cases ultimately destroy the

pulp. And again, that there is danger of making
undue pressure upon the pulp, in filling on such soft-
ened portion.
In many cases, it is maintained that partially de-
composed dentine will become dense again, if pro-
tected from the influence of foreign agents that
decompose it. This sometimes would seem to be
true. For in some cases, where fillings have been
introduced into cavities, at the bottom of which a
softened portion of dentine covered the pulp, on

removing them in from one to five years afterward,
the whole walls of the cavity were found to be
equally and normally dense. This, perhaps, would
occur only in good constitutions, and under favorable