Page 68 - My FlipBook

64 .CARIES OF THE TEETH. —

to caries; and after these the second bicuspids. The
latter two classes doubtless are so subject, more from
the facility they afford to the lodgment of deleterious
substances, than from a relatively imperfect organiza-

tion. Besides, from six to fifteen years of age, the
teeth are less appreciated and less cared for than at
a later period of life. The next most liable to decay
are the third molars. Then follow in order the first
bicuspids, the lateral incisors, the central incisors, and
the cuspids. Below are appended, in tabular form,
one thousand cases of decayed teeth, as observed
under ordinary circumstances, exhibiting the number

and per cent, of these in each class :

26, or 2J per cent., in central incisors.
a
38, or 3| in lateral incisors.
24, or 21 (< in canines.
"
87, or 8f in first bicuspids.
a
134, or 13i in second bicuspids.
a
370, or 37 in first molars.
a
218, or 22f in second molars.
"
102, or 10i in third molars.

Of these, a large proportion were removed for relief
from disease originating in caries of the dental tissue.
In general, the superior teeth are liable to decay
earlier and more rapidly than the inferior.