The practice of dentistry : a practical treatise upon the general practice of dentistry, operative and prosthetic, exclusive of orthodontic practice / by Leo Greenbaum and Max Greenbaum.

  • Greenbaum, Leo, 1853-
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The practice of dentistry : a practical treatise upon the general practice of dentistry, operative and prosthetic, exclusive of orthodontic practice / by Leo Greenbaum and Max Greenbaum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    accomplished by what is known as the resorbent organ, a name given by Tomes to an area of giant cells called odontoclasts (Fig. 7) occupying the space between the Fig. 6.—Decalcification of the Deciduous Teeth. The numbers indicate years. (Peirce.) advancing crown and the root of the deciduous tooth. The process, according to most recent investigations, is a form of phagocytosis. The giant cells of the resorbent organ, which appear no doubt through pressure stimula- tion, secrete a substance, very likely an acid, which is capable of effecting bone so- lution. As the root of the de- ciduous tooth is gradually dissolved the pulp becomes part of the resorbent organ and may retain its vitality until the entire root has been resorbed. Where the pulp, through the action of caries or an injury, loses its vitality and septic processes supervene, the resultant products are very apt to disturb the function of the resorbent organ. In such instances root resorption is incomplete and the permanent tooth may be deflected from its regu- lar course. If the septic condition is corrected, root re- sorption may be resumed. Fig. 7.—The Resorbent Organ Showing Multinucleated Cells. (Tomes.)