The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-09
TRUE ART IN DENTISTRY.

FROM the BIOOktyn I4dHles
A few days ago a man known to the
writer had occasion to visit his dentist. a
very distinguished practitioner who has
seen many years of service in both New
York and Paris In order to have an in
jured tooth repaired. The tooth in ques-
ton was somewhat loose in its socket. but
he was anxious not to lose n.enurslX. His
dentist, after a brief examination. told him
he could save the tooth without great diff
Guilty, but in order TO do so it would be
necessary to first extract it. With but
little trouble the extraction was made,
but twas then discovered that the root had
been previously fractured and the upper
portion remained firmly fixed In the Jaw.
The patient was Informed that some
little time would be necessary to make
the repairs needed in the molar. and that
unless he could wait some hours. while
these were taking place, he had best go to
his business and return in the afternoon
for the completion of the operation. He
went down town, spent the day at his Of
fee and i'm the afternoon, according to
appointment, returned TO the dental chair.
Everything was in readiness Not only
were the repairs done, the tooth thorough
" cleansed and brushed, but hole had
been drilled its entire length and a gold
rivet inserted.
The patient was placed in the chair and
a hole drilled in the upper root which re-
NAMED in the jaw. That done the den
fist deftly inserted the broken tooth,
screwed the rivet fast and hard into the
nd hiG pliant rRtOipiOR
1t was a somewhat remarkable operation.
very novel to the man who was subjected
to it, and best of all, gave him his tooth
back as strong as 1t had ever been.
This mans experience, so unusual and
interesting led the writer to seek an inter-
view with the surgeon, who undertook the
operation The reporter found him not
only a scientific and accomplished worker
In his own particular field of activity, but
beside a charming conversationalist and
man of the world. He modestly depre-
Gated the story of his wonderful opera
ton, saying that IL was nothing of very
great note or Importance, so that the re-
porter was led to ask: We'll, doctor, what
is the newest thing In dentistry, the most
scientific and the greatest discovery
This is the newest thing" he replied.
1.-The more natural teeth that can be pre-
served the better it is for the patient
But what do you mean by calling it
the newest discovery
Exactly what have already said Den
tistry began as a destructive process. Peo-
nile suffered and for relief extraction was
practiced 1t was not until quite recent
ly that 1t was recognized among dentists
generally that the more natural teeth that
can be preserved the better 1t is for the
natfent. Almost nobody knows what
damage the loss of one single tooth may
cause. Here is a model that shows the
left hand side of a woman's mouth totally
incapacitated for mastication because one
of the teeth failed to erupt. This one
shows a right hand side In almost the same
condition. because the corresponding tooth
was in childhood extracted This truth is
co little recognized that dentists generally
extract one or more teeth for very slight
reasons, thus innicting incalculable injury.
Men who readily extract teeth evidently
cannot recognize that the extraction of a
tooth is the acknowledgement of their in
capacity to save It,
you ask If a tooth that is painful
should not be extracted. / should reply
that almost all toothaches are susceptible
of such treatment as to restore health,
which means 70 restore the conditions that
make their possessor not conscious Of his
teeth. which is, after all, freedom from
pain"
What is toothache?"
"In order to answer that you need to
know that every human tooth has within
it a pulp. popularity called the nerve. This
puIp contains arteries, veins, nerves,
which latter are subdivided into between
100000 and 10000 nerves in each tooth,
and the connective tissues that form these
substances into the pulp. If a cavity Of
decay, which is always small to begin
with, is neglected until ii becomes large,
this pulp may be irritated by alterna-
tions in temperature acting through this
cavity, or by the action Of Initiative con
diments or hard substances accidentally
bitten in. This brings a rush of blood
through the arteries that causes such pres
sure on the little nerves in the pulp as