The care of the teeth during school life / by R. Denison Pedley ; issued by the Medical Officers of Schools Association.

  • Pedley, R. Denison (Richard Denison), 1857-1925
Date:
1910
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The care of the teeth during school life / by R. Denison Pedley ; issued by the Medical Officers of Schools Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    6/20 page 4
    A THE CARE OF THE TEETH on the registers of public elementary schools in England and Wales alone is nearly six millions, more than four millions will require treatment for dental diseases alone, apart from the general medical treatment of which it is only a part. lites presence of so vast an amount of disease among children is at least an incentive to try and find some remedy, however discouraging at first sight it may appear owing to the very magnitude of the task. On the threshold of inquiry into ways and means we are encouraged by the facts: (1) All agree that our children should enjoy good health not only because they may take advantage of the education provided, but that they may become effective workers; (2) There is no disease which yields so readily to treatment as dental disease and none whereby the body may be rendered so healthy. For it 1s a peculiarity of dental disorders that they bring innumerable evils in their train, not the least of which evils is that of — lowering the body’s vitality and thus opening wide a door for other diseases to enter. In order to trace the factors concerned in the production of dental diseases it is necessary to say a few words with regard to their structure and development. The method of their destruction will be considered later, and I shall conclude with a brief discussion as to the remedial measures to be taken. I have considered all these matters in a treatise aided by my colleague, Mr. Harrison, of Sheffield, and his beautiful illustrations. Some of these I shall show in order to elucidate the subject.* If we examine a section of the jaw at a very early stage of development it is clearly seen that teeth are dermal struc- tures. They are built up of growing cells, and out of such cellular structures the perfect tooth is formed. The crowns of the teeth are completed in soft tissue, and gradually become impregnated with lime salts, conveyed to them through the blood stream. At birth the crowns of the temporary teeth are almost completed and the jaws contain in addition the germs of all the permanent teeth. It is evident, therefore, that in the early stages of tooth building the proper nourishment and growth are dependent upon maternal supplies. Very soon after birth the crowns of the temporary teeth * “Our Teeth: How built up; how destroyed; how preserved.’ Blackie and Sons, London and Glasgow.
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image
    No text description is available for this image