The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-02-13
For the Anderson MtclHgcncer.
The Teeth.


The Teeth.
The amount of information possessed by the
public in reference to the teeth-their preser-
walton, treatment when diseased, and replace
ment when lost-is lamentably small; and
much of that which is considered knowledge is
erroneous. Many, even otherwise intelligent
people, are sadly deficient in a proper apprecia-
ton of the subject and not unfrequently suffer
from protracted arrangements of health which
have their unsupported origin in the dental
organs. 1t is gratifying indication that in
creased attention is being given to this matter
by the public. Although the origin of dentls-
try may be traced back to remote times, it is
only within few years that it has taken the
position to which its Importance as a speciality
of medicine entities it.
The science which teaches the structure,
functions, diseases and treatment of organs
which hold so important relation to the en-
tire economy as do the teeth, requires devo-
ton to it such as other specialists give to the
development of the highest skill in the partic-
ular direction which they elect to pursue
Dentistry has been defined as medical science
applied to the prevention, modification or re-
moval of the causes aud effects of disease in
the dental organs" to which must be added
scientific mechanism and artistic culture-skili
in construction and judgment in application
so that the dentist, thoroughly qualified for his
calling, is to some extent physician, surgeon,
artist and mechanic The different parts which,
in combination, constitute the mouth form
very important and complicated portion of the
animal economy, connected as it is by sympa-
thetic relations to the entire organism, made
up of bones, muscles, igaments, arteries, veins,
nerves, mucous membrane, etc., containing the
tongue, teeth, alveolar ridges and gums, re-
ceiving the secretions of various glands, and
being the organ of speech and mastication, it is
not only the most expressive and characteristic,
but also the most important of all the features.
1t is connected, by means of its lining mucous
membrane, with the pharynx, esophagus, stom-
ach and intestinal canal, and with the larynx'
trachea and bronchi-being thus closely related
to the economy of respiration and digestion. In
disease of any of these organs, the close rela-
tionship and sympathy of the parts are mani
tested by perceptible changes in the tongue,
gums, lips and mucous membranes while
through the nerves, with which the mouth is
so abundantly supplied, sympathetic relations
are established with the eyes, ears, and in fact
W.; tb ovorv no r. of tho hodv
The teeth are important organs in the econo-
my of the human system-their development
is one of the most interesting of the physlo-
logical processes. They are the hardest por-
tions of the body. Teeth are composed of the
pulp, commonly called the nerve, occupying
the chamber in the crown and the canal ex-
tending through the root; the dentine, which
constitutes the largest part of the tooth; the
enamel, which forms the covering and protec-
ton of the crown, and the cenentum, which
covers the root.
The first, deciduous or temporary, commonly
called the milk teeth, are twenty in number,
ten in each jaw-conssting of two central and
two lateral incisors, two CANNES or eye teeth,
and four molars or double teeth. There is no
absolute rule for their appearance, some chill
dren being born with teeth, while with others
their eruption is delayed much beyond the av-
erage time. The following table gives the
usual period and the order in which they may
be expected-the lower teeth generally precede
the upper by two or three months:
Central incisors.....-. to s months.
Lateral ........ to lO
First molarS............lZ TO 10
Canines.................l0 10 ~
Second molars.........20 to 36
Under favorable circumstances, the tempora-
ry teeth ought not to decay, but simply lose
their hold on the jaw from absorption of their
roots, and drop out white and clean as when
they first appeared. The temporary teeth are
smaller than the permanent, and of less firm
and solid texture; when, therefore, decay COM
mences in them it proceeds more rapidly, and
for this reason they need more attention and
care than the permanent teeth. Itisa common
error that because they are temporary they do
not require attention, or if any anxiety is felt
about them it is that they be not suffered to re-
main too long in the mouth. This is great
mistake, for the regularity of the permanent
teeth depends very much upon the retention OF
the temporary set until the second is ready TO
appear. The exemption of children from the
suffering caused by decay of the teeth, and OF
the parent from consequent Inconvenience and
pain, will also be best secured by constant at
tention to them from their first appearance
Moreover, the general health of the child will
be promoted by keeping these organs in such
condition that mastication can be performed
without pain. In infancy the mother should
make it part of the daily care of the child to
| saanxa ,aorfoot cleanliness of the teeth. Be-