A dictionary of dental science, biography, bibliography, and medical terminology / by Chapin A. Harris.

  • Harris, Chapin A. (Chapin Aaron), 1806-1860.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of dental science, biography, bibliography, and medical terminology / by Chapin A. Harris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

45 results

548/788
with any hard substance, increases it, as do also hot and cold liquids. Although of rare occurrence, it does sometimes happen that the inflammation extends no farther than the pulp cavity. But whether it remains confined to the lin- ing membrane and pulp, or extends, as it most frequently does, to the investing soft tissues, suppuration generally takes place in six or eight days. It rarely, ex- cept prompt and active means be em- ployed to arrest its progress, terminates in resolution. Suppuration of the pulp having taken place, the pressure of the accumulating matter upon the parts at the extremity of the root, generally soon gives rise to the formation of a sac, and true alveolar abscess. Some- times, however, the matter escapes be- tween the tooth and alveolus. When the carious opening in the crown of the tooth communicates with the internal cavity, the inflammation sometimes gives rise to a fungous growth of the pulp. When the alveolo-dental periosteum is the part first attacked by the inflam- mation, the pain is less severe, and more easily controlled. It is, however, equal- Jy constant, and more deep-seated, and generally soon extends to the lining membrane, causing, in the mean time, a thickening of the investing tunic, swelling of the gums, and often of the salivary and tonsil glands and face. A painful throbbing sensation is now experienced; a sac soon forms at the extremity of the root; suppuration of the fining membrane supervenes, and an alveolar abscess is formed, which see. But as the author has before remark- ed, tooth-ache sometimes results from the transfer of nervous irritation. Indi- viduals of a nervous temperament, and pregnant females are particularly liable to this variety of odontalgia; and it is sometimes a symptom of a disordered state of the stomach. When it results from these causes, its attacks are period- ical, seldom lasting more than two or three hours at a time, and recurring at stated, but more frequently, at uncer- tain intervals. Sound as well as cari- ous teeth are subject to this variety of tooth-ache, and it is often difficult to locate the pain in any particular tooth. Sometimes it seems, at one minute to be seated in one tooth, and at the next in another, frequently passing round the whole jaw. Sometimes it is acute and lancinating, but more frequently dull and tantalizing. Gouty and rheu- matic persons are occasionally aff'ecled with this variety of tooth-ache. Some teeth, from a peculiar constitu- tional idiosyncrasy, are more liable to ache than others. Some persons have all their teeth to decay and crumble to pieces, without ever being attacked with pain, while others whose teeth are apparently perfectly sound, are pecu- liarly subject to tooth-ache. Tooth-ache is frequently occasioned by exostosis of the root of one or more teeth, but for a description of this varie- ty, the reader is referred to the article upon that subject, for which, see Exos- tosis of the Teeth. In neuralgic tooth-ache, the.aflJ'ection, says Dr. Wood, may be seated in the nerve of a single tooth; but it much more commonly occupies the nervous trunk from which several teeth are sup- phed; and not unfrequently affects rather thejawthanthe teeth themselves. The pain is usually of the acute charac- ter, sometimes mild in the beginning, gradually increasing in intensity, and as gradually declining; but usually very irregular, at one time moderate, at another severe, and occasionally dart- ing with excruciating violence through the dental arches. Not unfrequently it assumes a regular intermittent form. Instead of pain, strictly speaking, the sensation is sometimes of that kind which is indicated when we say that the teeth are on edge, and is apt to be excited by certain harsh sounds, such as that produced in the filing of saw teeth, by mental inquietude, and by the