The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-26
tATE oF THE 3U1pLEss TOOTH

In a yocent issue of tho Illinois Dental Jour nal. official organ of the Illinois Dental society Dr J. F. Buckley, Hollywood dentist points ou. that 1t Is incorrect to consider tooth from which the pulp has been removed dead oi "nonyital' or "devitalized." A dead tooth m the jaw would not be tolerated by nature and would soon be exfoliatcd. The author goes or to explain, in technical language, that the dental pulp (which believe the laity calls the main bone like part of the tooth Is formed, and that the pulp disappears in old age ana the space 1t formerly occupied becomes hiiea alive, being nourished from the tissues sur. rounding 1t and not from. the pulp
 All as clear as mud. isn't 1t? Never mind. The essential Idea is that the puipiess tooth, the tooth in which the "nerve'' has been Killed or destroyed by injury or by infection, the tooth with root canal filling. Is not necessarily q for- oign body. dead thing, menace to hoaltn. n many instances 1t is not only inomensiye 1ut useful. perhaps for the support of some bridge or other denturc or for the maintenance or good position or occlusion of the rest of the teeth. or for mastication.
 pp Buckley asserts that root canal work, good work. requires no more skill than is re- quired for almost every operation the dentist s called upon to perform. TO that l say Amen | mean, boo-oo to the ideh that ohc must go to u specialist for root canal filling or treatment. Dr Buckley further asserts that the tooth with infection of the pulp (gangrene or ab' scoss) seldom requires more than three treat- nients over period of week, Tor compete
  and says that prolonged treatments are abso- lutcly contraindicated and rather increase IT, ritation and do harm. If the case cant be fin- ished iK a week or so 1t Is better 10 extract the tooth and be done with II.
 On the other hand, many leading dentists believe pulpless teeth are quite commonly T poleu.ial source of chronic i'll health. Tney maintain that infection of such pulpless teeth Is not definitely shown by x-ray pictures, but is insidious and may take years to become evi' dent. They think not q few cases cf heart, ar. tcry, Joint and other chronic troubles ~ ao ~ ~ poisoning of the system from infected pulpiess teeth that have been allowed to remain in the jaw since the age of 20 or 20.
 share this latter pessimistic yiew--and pessini- ism may be rlgnt--reler to these pulpless teeth as dead" teetn One such dentist who IS also a physician. is accustomed to advise patients thut he himself has not, and would not have uead tooth in his mouth.
 What is one to do about pulpless tooth when the dentists disagree?
 The sensible plan. 1t seems to me, is to keep the tooth or teeth as long as it serves useful purpose or causes no trouble. If ever your health becomes impaired in any way, why, put the question of the possible, bearing or the puipless tooth up to your physician, who, If hc siof only after consultation with your dentist
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 quaint RhcumAtix COnpIex
 Would lie on the sca affect one who has had rlicuinat. .sm but has had the cause reiiioycd2 (R. McC.)
 Answer-Oniy benedc!ally. Exposure to weather or dafnpness has nothing to do with any known joint disease. Invalids may be more sensitive, but that does not mean that cold or dampncss causes disease.
 Paralysis Not Hereditary
 At the age Of 5 years | had infantile pafal' ysis 1t 1cit one leg n faJ If should marry t iiOriial woman would our children be llkely t0 Inherit the paraIysis or other defect So faS as know aih perfectly well aside from nis weak leg (H. W. G.)
 Answer--The permanent maiming left by poliomyeltis is not transmssible condition Your children should be as sound as the chil- drcn of any healthy man.
 Doesn't It Jar Me?
 Is 1t Injurious to the kidneys riding motor cycle? (yffs R. C.)
 Answer--No.
 Case of Plea
 Is there anything Harmful in ashes? have a raviig for either black GIT gray cighfet 0i cigar ashes, although I do not smoke Just burn one t0 get taste of tile ashes. \ have Allad this cratif& for two years, since I was an exnectalit mother. when began chewing burnt matches. (MFs F. n. D.)
 Answer--No harm in 1t. Try chewing some kernels of wheat, oats or barley that is, the unmilled grain, or some byans