Handbook of dental anatomy and surgery : for the use of students and pratitioners / by John Smith.

  • Smith, J. (John), 1825-1910.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Handbook of dental anatomy and surgery : for the use of students and pratitioners / by John Smith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    63/150 (page 53)
    namely, first, an increased flow of saliva is produced, and a derivative action, as well as a kind of fomentation, to the parts is obtained ; and second, the alveoli and gums seem to he rendered thinner by sucli means, probably by the friction and pressure accelerating their absorption. Where, on the other hand, the gum is red or hot, or appears tense and stretched by the pressure of the crown of the tooth beneath, more active measures may be employed. The chief of these is what is termed Scarification. This consists in making an incision down upon the growing tooth, the object being to relieve con- gestion existing in the highly vascular tissues concerned, and sometimes to facilitate the egress of the tooth, by dividing any bands or bridles of tough mucous membrane opposing its escape. The method of performing this little operation in the easiest manner will be found to be that of seizing the affected part of the gum betwixt the thumb and forefinger of the left hand, and by means of a sharp-pointed, curved, and some- what short bistoury—that known as Syme’s abscess knife being the most suitable—making a crucial incision completely through the tissues