The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-04-06
Home Dentistry.

IL is 30 clearly the best policy, say
a writer in the Scientific american, fo
all who suffer from dental complication
to seek the aid of skilled dentist, tina
it may be almost supertluous to promis,
that the following hints are written fol
those only, who from want of funds OF
other cause, are unable to obtain pro
fessional advice. Decayed teeth should
at once be thoroughly stopped, whether
troublesome or not, because if the nerve
is exposed tooth will always be tender
unfit for use and liable TO ache; while
the food will lodge in tho cavity
and decompose, causing the breath to
be offensive. To treat decayed tooth
proceed as follows. First clean out the
cavity, picking out all the decomposed
parts which can be reached, and dry the
interior with cotton. For this and
subsequent operations, a thin steel or
iron instrument, sharpened at the point
and slightly curved, will be found useful.
Should the nerve be exposed, it should
be killed. There are several ways of do
ing this. One method is TO allow a drop
of creosote to fall on a piece of cotton,
when the latter is placed in the cavity,
filling it with pure cotton, Oil of cloves
may be also used; it is slower in its
action, but is more agreeable Both of
these are poisons, if taken into the
stomach in any considerable quantity.
They are therefore to be used on the
teeth with care, and only at the place
needed. For the plug. take bit of
common gutta percha and plunge it
into boiling water, which will soften it
and render it easy to manipulate as
putty. The cavity having been cleaned
and WHIPPED dry, allow single drop of
oil of cloves to fall upon very small bit
of cotton and force the latter into the
hollow of the tooth, pressing it well
in. Pinch off a piece of the softened
gutta percha of the size of the cavity,
dry it quickly on cotton cloth, press
it in with the instrument, and smooth
the outside with the finger. If the
cavity is in the crown of the tooth, close
the jaws; the gutta percha will thus
be nodded into the shape of the opposite
tooth. In about ten minutes the gutta
percha will harden and the tooth will
be capable of use. If the nerve is not
exposed and tender, the oil of cloves
may be omitted. In case the tooth has
decayed so far that mere shell is left,
apply sufficient gutta percha TO form a
complete cover. When two or three
teeth touching each other are badly
decayed, they may be covered with a
single piece of gutta percha. If at any
time the tooth again becomes trouble
some again, the filling may be removed
by the pointed instrument and fresh
one inserted. 1t should be borne in
mind that toothache caused by an
exposed nerve in decayed tooth can
be instantly cured by the application of
the oil of cloves, which should be used
with care, as above stated, 80 that it will
not effect the sound teeth. When the
nerve is destroyed, future relief from
pain is insured. Thus all who have
broken or ragged teeth, and cannot
obtain dentists aid, may readily free
themselves from pain and render the
injured teeth serviceable. A good wash
for the mouth may be prepared as fol-
lows Dissolve a little permanganate
of potash in water, rinsing the mouth
with a portion of the solution. This
will destroy the organic matter hanging
about the teeth, and will render the
breath inodorous.