The American text-book of operative dentistry / In contributions of eminent authorities. Ed. by Edward C. Kirk.

  • Edward Cameron Kirk
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The American text-book of operative dentistry / In contributions of eminent authorities. Ed. by Edward C. Kirk. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

    17/864 (page 15)
    INTRODUCTORY. A STUDY of the advances which have of recent years taken place in the tield of Operative Dentistry will reveal, besides the important addi- tions to our knov.'ledge in the shape of novel methods and improved technique, a vastly more important advance manifested in a better and more general understanding of scientitic principles, and the application of dental science to dental art, resulting in a more rational practice. Especially is this true in regard to the etiology of dental and oral pathological conditions, and the rationale of the modes of treatment indicated for the morbid states constantly confronting the dental practitioner. The modifications in surgical methods and the greatly improved results which are the outgrowth of modern scientific studies in bacterial pathology, ^\hilc they have made a considerable impress upon dental operative methods, have not, however, received that universal practical acceptance among dental operators which their immense importance demands. There is no field of special surgery in which the import- ance of exact knowledge with respect to aseptic and antiseptic treat- ment is more marked than in the practice of dentistry. The dental operator is continually confronted with septic conditions, so that pre- cise knowledge of their origin, causes, phenomena, and treatment are essentials to the legitimate practice of the profession. The performance of any operation, and especially those which arc classified as capital, with unclean hands or infected instruments would in the present stage of surgical art be regarded as criminal malpractice. It should be so considered in dentistry. The loss of a patient's life as the result of surgical septic infection is no longer permissible. Lack of antiseptic ])recautions in certain dental operations may directly lead to and as a matter of fact has been the cause of fatal results. It has been shown conclusively' that a large variety of pathogenic micro- organisms are almost constant inhabitants of the oral cavity. In addi- tion to the numerous forms whicli bring about an acid reaction, there are many specified organisms which produce in inoculated animals pyemia and septicemia in their several clinical classes. But while the dental practitioner is not often called upon to face the issues of life ^ W. D. Miller, Dental Cosmos, November, 1891.