The American text-book of prosthetic dentistry : in contributions by eminent authorities / edited by Charles J. Essig.
- Date:
- 1897
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The American text-book of prosthetic dentistry : in contributions by eminent authorities / edited by Charles J. Essig. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![thoroughly cleansing them, and he regards absolute cleanliness as a complete protection from inflammation. Prof. E. C. Kirk stated, as the result of repeated tests of the njucous secretion in cases of sore mouth associated with the rubber denture, that the mucus in such cases generally showed an alkaline I'eaction as it was eliminated ; and he suggests the possibility that alkaline sulphides might be eliminated to a sufficient extent to exert a slight solvent action upon the mercuric sulphide of the plate, and thus form an active salt of mercury. But this theory seems to be at variance with the more practical reasoning and experience of many others who have given much thought and attention to the subject. Prof. Kirk's suggestion, how- ever, that the non-conducting quality of the vegetable bases plays an important part in the production of every kind of inflammatory action undoubtedly carries with it much force, for, as he states, ''the effect on the tissues continually enclosed by the non-conducting plate is to main- tain a hypertemic condition, with slight increase of temperature : this in addition to the pressure, which, if it does not result in inflammation, is a source of irritation sufficient to bring about greatly increased func- tional activity of the cells of the parts. It was at one time thought, and so claimed by many of its advocates, that the substitution of celluloid for rubber dentures would prove an effective remedy in cases of sore mouth ; but that material is open to the same objections as rubber, and to a gi'eater degree in consequence of the sponginess of surface incident to the evaporation of camphor. Partial ai'tificial dentures immovably attached to one or more natural teeth or roots of teeth, or the attachment of several crowns to one or more roots as in bridge-work, present many points for consideration from a hygienic standpoint. The operation of substituting an artificial crown for a natural one should not, if properly performed, affect the integrity of any of the surrounding tissues, and yet if the work is ill- fitting and done in a slovenly manner, with the cap or ferrule extend- ing so far under the free margin of the gum as to impinge upon the alveolar border of the socket, persistent irritation may be established, which can only end in disorganization of connective tissue and loss of the root if the cause be not removed. The experience of the author has been tliat roots upon which artificial crowns have been fixed are less liable to pericemental inflammation and abscess than are devitalized teeth witli natural crowns, the grqater success in the treatment of the crownless root l)eing probably due to its accessibility and the better opportunity which undoubtedly exists of filling the latter with thoroughness to the full extent of the canal. The fact, too, of restoring occlusion, whereby roots arc brought into use, helps to keep them in a healthy condition, and prevents their gradual extrusion and premature loss from the alveoli. As is well known, there are a variety of methods of setting artificial crowns to roots. Any one of these methods, if lacking in the ele- ment of precision of adjustment, may favor the establishment of patho- logical conditions. The Riclmiond crown, pro])erly so called, with an accurately fitted cii]) or ferrule, is perhaps less liable to cause irritation to the surrounding tissues than any of the methods of crown-setting in use. The worst results have been noticed in that class of ci'owns, without](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b2144979x_0713.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
