The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-05-12

questions VI kNllCi a. AANNANeN
only, and then only through
his column.
parently opinion is changing and
/ take pleasure in quoting an art'
Gle on the "Present Status Of the
Pulpless Tooth" by DR.. Louis l
Grossman, of Philadelphia.
1t is admitted that the pulpless
tooth is a possible source Of focal
infection. A good deal has been
made of focal infection but, as
DR.. Billings, who did so much to
place the concept before the med
zeal profession, said, Focal infec-
>tion as a cause Of disease has come
to stay. But, like every other
principle in medicine, it has its
limitations"
The question of whether a pAp~
less tooth is a dead tooth has
somewhat changed in status. Ac-
cording to DR.. Grossman, "a pulp
less tooth is not a dead tooth. II
still has a definite and vital rela-
tionship with the surrounding It's
sue. :. The life Of the tooth is
dependent upon the integrity Of
the membrane (the outside) and
not upon the integrity of the pulp.
Many anatomists believe that the
function of the pulp ceases when
the tooth is completely calcihed
shortly after eruption"
Not a Dead Tooth
That a pulpless tooth is not q
dead tooth may be evidenced by
the pain experienced upon its re-
moval without an anesthetic.
1t is a we'll known fact that q
large number of people who have
pulpless teeth show no evidence Of
focal infection or systemic dis
comfort.
In a series Of X-ray studies in
large hospital, conducted over q
number of years, it was found that
among 1900 patients, only about
half could possibly be considered
to have any part of their illness
due to infected teeth. It. is signifi-
cant that rs per cent of the well
group had pulpless teeth.
Taking the entire group and
defining well" as meaning those
whose trouble could not be ascribed
to teeth. it is significant that Of
those with pulpless teeth, IS per
cent were sick and 81 per cent
were well, whereas those without
pulpless teeth, 80 per cent were
sick and so per cent were well.
Unnecessary Extractions
Studying over 1000 college
students, it was found that near
ly 20 per cent of the group, all Of
whom were healthy, had what
might be called pulpless teeth.
The conclusion of the study was
1.-THE wholesale removal of devita-
lized teeth and teeth with granu-
lomata, is certainly without justi-
fcation in healthy young indi-
viduals."
Studies by psychologists using
the best technique indicate that
pulpless teeth, even when they
have X-ray shadows at the apex,
seldom show any germs present
either in the pulp or at the apex
when careful culture technique i.
carried out.
These studies confirm my own
impressions which have been gath
cred during the last ten years on
people who have had teeth re-
moved for little, or no, reason. A
pulpless tooth, if it is not giving
any trouble and is solid in the Jaw,
may be doing a very excellent
service in preserving the contour
Of the mouth and the integrity of
the dental arch. / believe doctors,
more and more, are getting con-
servative in their attitude towards
The destruction of innocent teeth.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
N. U. BIS there the same
danger Of blood clot forming
and reaching the heart following
injection for varicose veins as
there is following an operation ?"
Answer-The danger of a clot
forming in injection for varicose
veins is very slight because the
elot is aseptic. This is reported as
once in $4,000 cases, much less fire.
quent than in operations. Clots
which get into the blood stream
and cause trouble occur in 0.Oo754
per cent in injection operations for
yaricose veins as compared to
o.53 Der cent in operations. =