Page 46 - My FlipBook

CHAPTER II.

CARIES OF THE TEETH.

Notwithstanding the teeth are so important in
the human economy, having functions so various and
so extensive to perform, they are greatly neglected
in most instances, and, in many subjected to positive
violence; as, for example, in crushing or biting hard
substances, sustaining weights, and suffering severe
percussion, sudden extremes of temperature, bungling
dental operations, etc. Very few give that attention
to these organs, which is requisite to preserve them
from injurious influences ; and, owing to artificial

modes of life, and consequent impairment of health,
this is often difficult to do. Indeed, these influences
are frequently not known, and the causes of disease
in the teeth not explored.
Such is the truth, to some extent, in regard to
caries ; though this affection is more generally a re-
sult of conditions well understood. The dentine is
affected more frequently by caries than by any other
form of disease. It is both frequent in occurrence
and fatal in tendency. Scarcely any that have at-