River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-05-03
treatment for an liberated Tooth.

treatment for an liberated Tooth.
DIR. Geo. L. Parmelee of Harvard Uni
yersitv writes TO the Journal of Chemistry.
tcllingthe cause of liberated teeth and
the tratment therefor If longitudinal
sectionbe made of a tooth, cavity near
ly corresponding in shape TO the external
contour of the tooth will be found. The
cavity prolonged into the root or roots,
if there be more than one, and opens by
minute orifice at the extremity of each
This iscalled the pulp cavity or chamber,
while those portions extending into the
roots are distinguished by the name of
pulp canals. This pulp cavity is eccu-
pied BY highly vascular and nervous
tissue, the dental pulp which is contin-
uous, through the opening at the end of
tie root, with the vessels and nerves
which supply the teeth and adjacent
parts.
When from any cause the pulp of a
tooth lies, what happensl The pulp be-
ing dead, of course, decomposes; and if
allowed 10 remain in the tooth, the gases
arising from this decomposition must find
means of exit. If cavity of decay ex-
lists freely open, the gases arising from the
dead pulp will escape through the cavity,
and no trouble results. But should this
cavity be closed, either by the impaction
of food filling, or any other cause, the
gases finding no other vent, are forced
through the minute oritice at the end OF
the root, where the vessels entered which
supplied it with life, irritating the root
membrane of the tooth and surrounding
parts. THIS irritation causes inflammation,
and as thisprogresses, pus is formed.
The first indication we have of this va
riety of tootAache is slight soreness on
shutting the teeth together or on striking
the affected tooth Soon the soreness in
creases, the tooth feels as if it was more
prominent than the Others, and one has a
desire to be continually feeling of 1t, to
see how things are progressing. The
pain is dull, throbbing, and, owi.-g to the
parts being confined by hard, bony walls
severely intense, the whole jaw sympa-
thizing.
As it is often necessary to destroy these
pulps, what should be done to guard
against toothache of this variety! After
the life of pulp has been destroyed, by
the application of medicine to it, or any
other cause, it should be hardened ano
withdrawn from its cavity-which is not
painful operation-the parts thoroughly
disinfected, and the cavity carefully filled
If teeth are treated in this way, the
chances of trouble are greatly lessened
and they may be retained as useful or
gans for many years and perhaps for {
lifetime. What shall we do if thi.
trouble does arisel Consult eompcten
dentist, not one who has picked up lit
tie knowledge of teeth, and is mere eX
tractor and plugger of these organs, bu
one who has been thoroughly and scien
tifically educated for his Calling and ht
will know what to do. In case for any
reason this is impossible, you mag be able
to relieve yourself.
In the first place do not delay in hope
that the tooth may feel better, but attend
to it at once Remove if you can all for
eign matter from the cavity, thoroughly
washing it with tepid water, and get al
opening into the pulp chamber. This
alone will often cure it. Paint the gun
freely all around the tooth with strong
tincture of iodine, first drying off the
moisture from the gum. Hold ice-colC
water or Jumps of ice continually in the
mouth, but should you start on this colo
water method of treatment you must keeI
it up for several hours, or it will be worse
than useless Hot footballs and saline
cathartics. Let the tooth alone, do no
keep fee. g., of it, thus keeping up the If
ritation which you are trying to allay
Remember that this form of treatment il
10 10 In
but only in cases where this organ is dead
Cold water. applied to an inflamed living
pulp, would only increase your agony.
Should you find that you cannot arres
the inflammation after a sufficient trial. yol
will have to take the other course, anC
that is. to hasten suppuration by warm APP
plications directly to the part. For Thu
purpose nothing is better than a split fig
roasted and laid on the gum. Warn
fluids held in the mouth will sometime
afford relief But it is wiser to go a
once to competent dentist, as serious
trouble often arises from this form of dis
ease. Never, on any consideration, appl.
poultices to the outside of the face, TO
should the abscess point break there,
permanent and unsightly scar would b'
the result.
In closing l would say, that as :" al
ounce of prevention is worth pound o
cure" it would be much better to attend
to your teeth in time, before the pulp
become exposed and save your teeth anC
yourself all this pain and trouble. Yo'
will never find any artificial teeth tina
will be the source of so much comfort a
your own natural organs properly takel
care Of