Interstitial gingivitis and pyorrhoea alveolaris.

  • Talbot, Eugene S. (Eugene Solomon), 1847-1924.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Interstitial gingivitis and pyorrhoea alveolaris. 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.

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    bone and tootli strncture due to unstable nervous tissue, and from tlie slightest irritation. The gums, mucous membrane, alveolar process and peri- dental membrane, owing to their transient nature, are influenced by the slightest irritation. This influence is the result of both constitutional and local causes. It consists of an irritation in the peripheral nerves which sets the osteoblasts and osteoclasts at work to l)uild up or tear down the alveolar process. This in- fluence may be only sufficient to stinuilate these cells to action without inflammation. This is noticed in the advance toward old age, in long, lingering debility, in the development of bone, espe- cially the tearing down and the building up of the inferior max- illary backward. It may be noted in mild or intense inflamma- tion of the peridental membrane, due to more acute forms of disease, to scurvy, mercurial, lead and iodide poisoning, or to local irritation. So sensitive are these structures that in neu- rotics and degenerates the slightest irritation produced in the physiologic development of the permanent teeth is sufficient to start the osteoblasts to building up bone structure, thus pro- ducing that pathologic condition called hypertrophy of the alve- olar process; one of the most marked evidences of an unstable nervous system. The breaking down of the tissues by the osteoclasts may be induced by as slight a cause. The alveolar process being so thin about the teeth, destruction of the entire walls is accomplished without difficulty, and in a very short time, thus loosening the teeth, which eventually drop out. According to Kaufmann ^''' the following processes take part in the absorption of bone: (a) Lacunar Absorption, (b) Forma- tion of Perforating Canals, (c) Disappearance after Prior Absorption of Lime (Halisteresis) (Bony Waste) and Osteo- malacia. By far the connnonest form of bone destruction is by lacunar absorption. This process occurs not only under physio- logic conditions, but is extraordinarily frequent in pathologic states, e. g., in the various types of atrophy. They form on the Pathologische Anatomie.