Milford chronicle., 1920-05-21
TEETH AND HEALTH
By r. ALLEN GRIFFITH, D. D. S.
CAVITIES OF THE FACE

Most Of us think that the face has two
holes in which the eyes are set, TWO holes
in the nose for the air TO 80 thru, or
should 60 thru, and cross slits into which
We poke food.
These are the main openings. but there
are others.
The nose is a triangular opening in
the face, divided into two parts by wha;
is called the septum.
Some of the bones Of the face are hol-
low or containing bony cavities, called
slnuScs.
There are two sets OF these bony cav
/ tiles or sinuses, those that empty INTO
I the front part OF the nose and those that
empty into the posteriOr part of the nose.
The siuuses are always In pairs one on
each side Of the center OF the face.
The frontal sinus is situated in the
/ forehead just above the root Of the nose
and eyes. Directly back Of these, and
smaller in size, are the ethmoidal cells
or sinuses, and back Of these are the
sphenOidal sinusess just above the roots
Of the teeth and under the eyes, on either
side Of and opening into the nose is the
largest Of all the sinCses, called the an
trum Of HighmOre
The antrum OF Highmore is the most
interesting from a dental standpoint, be
cause the roots OF some Of the teeth Of
ten protrude up into the bottom Of the
cavity, and there is danger Of Infection
from the teeth.
These four sets Of cavities all open
into the nose, are all lined with the same
mucus membrane that lines the nose.
Each Of these cavities is connected by a
small opening directly into the nose and
drains into the nose.
This is important TO know, because any
infection Of the nose is likely TO extend
thru these little openings into the various
sinuses and set up a lot Of trouble. The
antrum then is in very close relation to
the eye, the nose and to the mouth thru
the teeth. Sometimes it is divided into
two or three cavities. On the outer all
Of the nose, the heat passage, the little
turbinates or coils for warming and mois-
tening the air sometimes become infiam-
ca from lnIecuon' swell ana interfere
with the drainage Of the sinuses because
of the swelling.
When we catch cold" what takes place /
is infection Of the mucous membrane Of I
the nose, and with that infection there I
is immediate swelling and an excess Sc I
cretion. This secretion is az first watery, !
becomes thicker, more ropy and finally {
quite thick, and the condition disappears, I
provided a cure is taking place. In case I
one Of the tissues swell and close up the I
spaces there is no drainage and If they I
are infected Qull Of pus) YOU get pain.
II the frontal sinuses are infected you
get pain over the eyes. II the antrum Is
infected you have pain under the eye. II 4
the little ethmOidal cells are infected the
If the sphenoidal cells are infected the
pain is in the back Of the head. The sim
uses are an connected together and drain
downward.
The roots Of the back teeth are usual
ly touching the floor of the antrum. If
the roots, or membranes around them.
carried into the sinuses. The majority Of
sinus infection comes from the nose. but
the trouble is frequently due 70 the roots
Of infected teeth. Sometimes a dentist
pulls a tooth and finds TO his surprise
that ne has gone directly into the an
-rum. We do not know what the func-
ton Of the snuses is. but we have a lot
Of theories Some have thought that
perhaps the sinusues We're TO tighten the
bones Of the face. They are hollow and
lined with mucous membrane. but Sc
erets very little fluid. Possibly their
Junction Is to help the voice as reverber-
alton chambers. They do not connect
With the brain, but are very close 20 II.
rhe ethmoidal cells go under the brain,
lut are not very close TO it. The ethinoi-
ial cells go under the brain, and their
Infection may extend up into the brain
I drainage is not obtained.
Thus we see that dead and infected
eeth may infect the antrum and connect
ng sinuses and such infection may lead
lirectly to the BRAIN This is only one
.rgument against the killing Of nerves
~ dentists, as nearly all Of them sooner
VI later become infected.
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