In cases of hypercementosis it is assumed that the source of irritation is pressure upon the nerves of the pericementum by the hypertrophic growth. Very widespread disorders may arise from this source. Chiropractors do not, or, at least should not, assume the source of irritation. They should know the origin of disease, and be scientific as well as efficient in the art of adjusting. Burchard mentions trifacial neuralgia as being a reflex disturbance from pressure upon nerves.
Trifacial neuralgia includes odontalgia, toothache and neuralgia maxillaris.
A reflex action is one executed without consciousness. A reflex or reflected pain, according to pathologists, is one referred to some location other than that of its origin. This definition, if accepted by chiropractors, would define all pains as being reflex, originating in one locality by an impingement on a nerve, and its expression of disease, in another area, at its peripheral ending. Dental neuralgia, odontalgia, toothache and dental caries arise from nerve excitation of the third pair of cervical nerves, the cause of inflammatory conditions, while that of the hard tissue of the gums because of pressure on the twelfth pair of dorsal nerves, the cause of dental neuralgia and caries, can be traced to the third pair of cervical nerves. Through the intestinal sympathetic connection of the fifth cranial nerve with the seventh, ninth and tenth cranial nerves, salivary, muscular, nervous, alimentary and pulmonary disturbances become possible.