Page 57 - My FlipBook

CAUSES OF CAIIIES. 53 ; ;

In some instances the teeth will exhibit :he pecu-
liarities of the mother, and in others, those of the
father ; while sometimes they similate those of both
parents ; and when the parental imprint is thus found
stamped on the teeth, it will also be found that those
of the same class decay at the same points and at

about the same age as in the parent. In such cases
the defect is manifestly hereditary ; it cannot be acci-
dental : the coincidences thus constantly occurring
preclude any other conclusion. Hereditary taint, then,
may be regarded as a predisposing cause of caries.
Impaired vitality is another predisposing cause
and not only impaired vitality of the teeth and con-

tiguous parts, but also that of the general system.
Indeed, the vital vigor of the teeth depends upon
that of the general system, and, when there is no
local adverse influence at work, corresponds with it
so that when the general system is in the most healthy
condition, the teeth possess the greatest power of re-
sistance to deleterious agencies. This resisting power

is, at best, comparatively feeble ; but its feebleness is,
to some extent, compensated by the peculiar structure
of the teeth, which are less liable to decomposition
than any other part of the human body. Yet the
integrity of these organs depends much on the main-
tenance of a healthy vitality, and this on that of the
general system. A dead tooth will decay far more