HOW THE TEETH AFFECT THE EYES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 2675, 21 July 1913, Page 7

HOW THE TEETH AFFECT THE EYES.

Tlie name ‘‘eye-teeth” shows that some relationship between the eyes and the teeth has long been popularly recognised. There is no reason to suppose, however, that the relationship is limited to anv particular tooth or group of teeth. Dr W. E. Bruner, in an article in The Antnals of Ophthalmology, treats this subject, and particularly the production of diseases of the eye or disturbances of vision from abnormal conditions in the teeth. Our quotations are from a review in The American Journal of Clinical Medicine (Chicago). After noting several minor eye-troubles due to defective teeth, especially in the upper jaw, the reviewer says;— “Blindness following the extraction of a tooth has boon reported. Organic or structural changes in or about the eye, resulting from the teeth, have been observed in many varied forms; and inflammation of almost every structure of the eye, depending upon cr at least attributable to dental trouble, has been reported,” The writer notes that when septic conditions about the .mouth are found in a patient upon whom an operation upon the eyeball is contemplated, it is most important to correct this condition before proceeding to any operation. Blindness has even followed decay of the teeth extending to the floor of tluo orbit and involving the optic nerve. The reviewer goes on: “The remarkable fact upon which the I.author lays particular stress _ is, that not infrequently the patient is wholly unconscious of anything wrong with his teeth, and he will state that the latter are examined regularly by supposedly competent dentists. _ The author lias grown to be suspicious of I a mouth showing numerous gold crowns and fillings, and he places great weight upon an x-ray examination, which lie insists upon when he does not feel certain of the work previously i done. He has thus succeeded in seve--1 ral instances in finding abscesses at the ! roots of teeth, or improperly filled I roots, where nothing wrong was suspected by the patient, with the result ! of securing relief of the ocular symptoms by treatment of the pathologic dental conditions.”