Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-08-22
Maine Dental Society.

II. Leavitt, the President being absent. Min
utes of last meeting, which was held in
Portland, were read and approved, Made
choice of the following officers for the ensu-
ing year: DR.. Henry Leavitt, Skowhegan,
President; DR.. E. J. Roberts, Augusta,
Vice President; DR.. Chas. f. Hussey, Bid
deford, Secretary; DR.. w. r. Johnson,
Portland, Treasurer.
| Executive Committee-Drs. E. Bacon,
Thos. Haley, ThOs. Fillebrown, II. w. Ladd,
j. H. Lombard
| Drs. J. w. Curtis of Brunswick, J. W.
Merrill Of Thomaston, and G. 2. Lombard Of
Belfast, were elected active members of the
Society.
| Drs. Roberts, Chamberlain and Ladd, were
chosen Committee of Arrangements for the
| session.
| DR.. J. w. Curtis Of Brunswick read an essay
upon Pathology of the teeth, stating So per
cent. to be carries; the balance is by ABSORPTION
of gums, salivary calculus necrosis and exos-
| tosis, These conditions are not confined to any
| age or climate. The temporary teeth alike
suffer, till about the twelfth year most of
them are replaced by the permanent set
| which also suffer these conditions. Carries is
caused by want of cleanliness strictly the teeth
! retaining the collections and secretions be-
tween them and in places where it cannot be
kept cleansed from corrosive substances which
decay the teeth.
Absorption is generally produced by insol-
| ivation or by deposits of calculus which is
precipitate from the saliva which deposits
about the necks of the teeth and if allowed to
remain, produces irritation of the gums,
separating and wasting them till the teeth
fall out. Usually when this condition is pres
ent, the teeth do not decay. Scrofula habit
Of the system causes the same conditions. Ne
crosis of the Alveolus or death of bone re-
suits. Exostoss is that condition when there
is enlargement of bone when affecting the
teeth, it is generally formed at the apex of
| the roots, resulting in Neuralgia, uneasy
pain in the jaws.
lst discussion-Dr. Arthur's system of pre-
venting decay Of the teeth, was opened by DR..
Fillebrown Of Lewiston. The system is by
proximating surfaces selfcleansing. At the
first indication of decay, which is the soften
ing of the enamel, which commences several
years generally before a cavity is formed, the
method is by cutting between the teeth, OPEN
ing between them looking into the mouth
while the external contour is not injured and
leaving the point of contact between the teeth
too small to retain anything to decompose
them. In support of this theory, it is true
that where teeth are separated completely,
and the enamel is entirely removed, the sus-
ceptibility to decay is not increased; the bone
of the tooth has a recuperative power which
the enamel has not, and deposits bone to har-
den the surfaces thus exposed, till it is near
ly as hard as enamel. The object of enamel
seems to be for its mechanical strength, to
mastcate. Nature does not provide it against
decomposing agents. 1t is the same material
of the dentine, and is acted upon as readily.
Except it may resist progress of decay by its
density, it has no recuperative poweriwhile the
dentine has.
DR.. Salmon of Boston felt to object some
what to the method, saying he doubted about
the teeth being kept self-cleansed even after
being treated this way, and of course the teeth
are little more liable to decay if substances
are retained.
DIR. Curtis stated case in practice of
man being influenced by the mercury of
Amalgam filling. He had been poisoned
twice previously, and now suffered all the
indications of mercural poison and could not
give any other reason for it except the pres
ence of the Amalgam being put in his teeth.
This is rare case among the many thousand
Amalgam filings which have been made, the
metals are held in combination and Mercury
takes no effect.
The Society adjourned to meet at 8 o'clock
in the morning at the office of DR.. Chamber
lain for the purpose of clinical operations.
By invitation the society repaired to the
residence of DR.. Chamberlain and joined
there select party and were elegantly en-
tertained
Wednesday at o'clock, A. NJ, met at the
office of DR.. Chamberlain, where Dr. Thos
Fillebrown of Lewiston demonstrated new
original methed of packing adhesive gold,
furnishing gold in with smooth steel points
also exhibited his instruments for separating
teeth and models of sets treated by separa-
ton.
DR.. Salmon of Boston gave some very val
liable instruction in regard to building down
teeth with gold.
DR.. Roberts and Sawyer were made COM
mittee to act in concert with the committee of
the American National Dental Association,
in resisting the tax imposed upon the dentist
for the use of rubber, believing the patent
right to be an imposition and fraudulently OBJ.
tanned.
Voted that the next semi-anual meeting be
held in Portland, and the next annual at
Skowhegan.
Adjourned