Page 74 - My FlipBook

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TO CARIES OF THE TEETH.

subdued ; as it may be, by the use of some prepara-
tion that will counteract the exciting influence—some
dentifrice or lotion containing an alkali ; or a rubbing
of the sensitive surface with a smooth steel burnisher,
will in many cases effect this object, and prevent the
development of decay.
It has been suggested that the character of the

caries may be modified by the local application of
therapeutic agents—that the rapid decay may be
changed to the slow—and this, too, without regard
to the attendant circumstances,, such as the condition
of the secretions of the mouth, the causes producing
the disease, etc. ; for this purpose various agents have
been proposed. It is held that by an application of
the nitrate of silver, the white, rapid decay being
changed to that of a dark color, is arrested in its pro-
gress. But there is no very palpable principle on which

this agent can be supposed to operate to arrest caries.
It is generally conceded to be injurious to a healthy
tooth ; how, then, it becomes beneficial to one de-
cayed, it is not easy to perceive. The notion may
have originated in the fact that, after the application
of nitrate of silver, the cavity turns dark, or black
and this color being naturally associated with the
slow form of decay, it may have been concluded that
it might be thus associated by artificial means. This
conclusion, however, is fallacious; for the coloring