The cause and prevention of decay in teeth : an investigation into the causes of the prevalence of dental caries : to which are appended some suggestions on its prevention / by J. Sim Wallace.

  • Wallace, J. Sim (James Sim), 1869-1951.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The cause and prevention of decay in teeth : an investigation into the causes of the prevalence of dental caries : to which are appended some suggestions on its prevention / by J. Sim Wallace. 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.

    74/138 (page 64)
    CHAPTER V. EFFECTS OF IRREGULARITY Hjtherto I have taken it for granted that irregularity of the teeth predisposes to caries ; I wish now to show why it is a predisposing condition. In order to elucidate tlii- point I shall recall to the reader a condition which he may have observed, or if not, which he may easily observe on directing his attention to the subject. AVhen caries starts at the neck of a tooth it will be noticed that it com- mences at a slight distance from the edge of the gum. The part which exhibits, in the early stages, the maximum amount of decalcification is removed from the edge of the gum about a millimetre. Now, if the crevice formed by the edge of the gum and the neighbouring part of the tooth be filled with food, as it frequently is, it will be observed that the greatest depth of food is immediately under the gum, and not a millimetre from it. From this it is presumable that the gum exercises an influence antagonistic to the formation of acid. This is further supported by the fact that at almost the same place in certain mouths there is a deposit of tartar. However, the tartar is deposited close to the gum, and in fact, if the formation is not great, at the distance of a millimetre from the gum there is no deposit of tartar at all. This