Page 257 - My FlipBook

EXPOSED PULPS. 253

Another method of shielding an exposed pulp is, to
form an arch over it by the filling. This operation is
performed by beginning the filling at that side of the
cavity most easily approached, building on the gold
from the points of its attachment almost to the point
at which the pulp is exposed, and then attaching
from one point to another without permitting the gold

to come in contact with the pulp. Care should be
taken that the gold present as smooth a surface to
the pulp as possible. When the orifice of exposure
has been well covered and protected, the remaining
portion of the cavity is filled as usual. This method
of forming a protection over a tooth-pulp, possesses
no advantage over the ordinary cap ; and being much

more difficult, it is impracticable in any but skillful
hands.
This practice with exposed pulps, however, has,
within the last few years, been almost wholly aban-
doned, and for the following reasons : because it so
frequently failed to accomplish the object, and because
a better method of treatment has been discovered.
It was found that, muier that practice, many cases
which at first promised well, failed to preserve the

life of the pulp; though the fatal results were not
always immediate, a year or two, and, in some in-
stances, a much longer period, intervening between
the operation and the death of the tooth. In favor-