Relation of dental affections to diseases of the eye.

  • Fox, Lawrance Webster, 1853-1931.
Date:
[1904]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Relation of dental affections to diseases of the eye. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    attended by similar pains that do not yield to treatment, necessitate attention to the teeth, as when diseased they retard the recovery, even if not directly causal. 6. In ocular affections complicated by disease of the teeth the dental surgeon should not be misled by the occuirence of trifacial neuralgia and attribute it to the dental condition. This is a serious error, as such neuralgia is an almost constant accompaniment of serious conditions, such as irido-cyclitis, glaucoma, etc., and de- mands the care of a skilled ophthalmologist. Discussion. Dr. C. V. Krcitzer, Reading: We all remember the admirable paper on “Gold Blindness” which Dr. Fox read before this Society a few years ago (Dental Digest, April, 1901, page 266), and the valuable hints given therein respecting the care of our eyes and general health. We should all be aware of the intimate nervous relation between the teeth and eyes, and know that there may be pathological reflexes from one to the other, and in cases where we are unable to find any local cause for dental disturbance, especially where there is a suspicion of eye trouble, this knowledge should prompt us to refer such patients to an opthalmologist. Dr. N. H. Myers: A patient came to my office and complained of intense pain in a tooth which was also very sensitive. After an examination I suggested extracting it, but she would not consent to this and went to another dentist who devitalized the pulp. In- flammation set in and the pain became more intense, spreading to the ear and finally causing her to become deaf. She then came back to me, and believing that the trouble was still in the tooth I extracted it. Two days later the pain had entirely disappeared and her hearing had returned. Dr. James Truman, Philadelphia: The intimate relation between the eye and ear must be understood before a scientific and correct diagnosis of a pathological condition can be reached. We are fully aware of the fact that diseases of the teeth produce facial neuralgia. 1 his is demonstrated in infancy but becomes more pronounced in later years, for as the second molar comes down from the ramus it produces reflex disturbances about the ninth year of age. We are all familiar .with the troubles resulting from impaction of the third molar. If we cannot locate the cause of trouble in these reflex disturbances it is our duty to pass the patient over to the ophthal-