The Western Dental Journal (Volume 13)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899. Excerpt: ... the cavity itself. I do not believe you can have a universal filling material for all cavities. Discussion closed. Dr. G. W. Musgrave, of Ash Grove, Missouri, was next called, and read a paper entitled Diagnosis and Treatment of Pyorrhea Alveolaris, as follows: DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF PYORRHEA ALVEOLABIS. My desire is to give you a short paper on the Diagnosis aud Treatment of 1'yorrhea Alveolaris. I promise it shall be concise, however, for, with the exception of some borrowed ideas, I shall confine my talk within the bounds of my own practice and study. Pyorrhea alveolaris means a discharge of putresceut matter or a flowing of pus from around the teeth. To diagnose a case of pyorrhea alveolaris, look for gingival inflammation, such as sponginess of the gums and a blue or purplish color around the teeth. Press the diseased gum with a finger and watch for a flow of pus. Test all gingival borders with a delicate burnisher in quest of pus. The pus-pockets are of two kinds, simple and complex. The simple pockets have direct continuous sides that are easily followed by a probe. The complex pockets are galleried or grottoed and very difficult to treat, as it is not easy to find an instrument with which you can remove all the incrustation from the various parts of the tooth. Sometimes you will find two or more pockets on the same root connected by a gallery or grotto, one pocket having an outlet direct and the others an indirect. The question may be asked: Where are the blind pockets?' In answer to this I will say, I have never found any blind pockets, and do not believe there are any. For treatment of this disease, first remove all visible salivary calculus from the teeth, using water heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and with an ordinary dental syring...