THE TOOTHACHE GERM

Otago Witness, Issue 3581, 31 October 1922, Page 47

THE TOOTHACHE GERM

1 kot ' n Professional interest is taken in tlm cental exhibition at the Imperial Institute where all the latest appliances for the perfection of dental services mav lie and applied. It is almost as nnwl, an education for the dental pracfationer as it would be for the layman were he admitted, for, as on previous occasions, the professional nature of the exhibition pul hc lltUinet J,V ’ 10 exc btsion of the genera! W lint interests others besides dentists is tile discovery of the “toothache microbe ” three scientists have been working on this j Problem at the Middlesex Hospital, anil at the exhibition they show slides of the organism they believe to be the cause of the trouble. Professor J. Macintosh, Dr Warwick James, and Professor 1«. Lazarus Harlow have been trying for a long time to isolate this microbe, and they believe tney have succeeded. -i germ has been identified by these rcscar: hers, and evidence of its association ut n this disease produced. Other workers relieve that it is necessary to look even iurtier back than bacteriology to causes which enable genus of any sort to flourish ■n the mouth. Certain it. i s (hat carious opt i are seldom the only sign or symptom of unfitness m those suffering from them the old-fashioned idea that strong tooth and luxuriant hair are to be taken as evidence of robust general health may yet • "°;” 1 ' seem.,find a new justification During tlie exhibition it is hoped to give lectures on investigations recently made of the bacterial origin of dental caries. The theory that, decay ,s brought about bv .a germ winch lodges itself in the outer enamel covering is an entirely new one. and it is tilting that the subject should be further explored at a gathering of experts. ELECT RO-TH ERA PEI’TICS. Tile exhibition also illustrates the progress that has 1.-een made in dental electrotherapeutics. 'I he modern dentist has dispensed wan the old foot-pedal grinder, and lit Its place has installed an electro-dental apparatus which, in addition, can bo used tor hot-air cautery, ionic medication, mouth illumination, electro-sterilisation, pulp diagnosis, electric vibratory massage, etc. Tho whole apparatus is contained j n a compact nickel-plated table, which can bet attached trorn any lighting plug or larpp-holder A rheostat regulator enables the operator to control the amount cf current, and so simple Is the entire outfit that it requires but tho turn of a switch to put il in motion Cos inhalers. X-rays, forceps of all shapes and Sizes, and other contrivances which strike terror into the heart of the average visitor to the dentists operating room are ihere in abundance, but ihe “atmosphere” is missing and tho visitor can inspect, handle and even criticise them openlv and fearlessly. SHADES IN TEETH. Cases of artificial tooth, too, make a striking show —in substance varying from ivory to solid rock. “Sounds odd doesn’t it?” said the representative of one firm in illustrating the method c-f blasting rock for dental purposes. Nevertheless, the base of all porcelain, from which the majority of artificial iceth are made is the mineral feldspar, quarried in much the same way as other stones. Artificial teeth however, require a supreme grade of feldspar. because they are the highest development of the porcelain art. and the quarries which can boast cf producing dental spar are limited. A lany modern porcelain teeth are shown in all the natural shades that camouflage their artificiality. If the teeth show slightly blue or transparent at the tips this can be imitated exactly, and even the discolouration due to tobacco stain can be copied, so that the artificial dentures will look like twin brothers to the real ones There are even shown sets of false teeth as black as ebony, intended for Siamese married ladies, with whom it is tlie custom to stain the teeth Hack with betel nut to denote their married state. TREATMENT ON PANEL PLAN. A further move inwards stabilising the professional position of the dentist is seen in the desire expressed by a great many of them to have dental benefit included as a standard benefit under the National Insurance Acts. 'lbis is a question which is to bo debated at a congress, wln n it is to bo hoped that the lucnrpoiuted Dental ; Society will be able to formulate and supj port a permanent s; heme for the giving of j dental treatment on the pane! plan. Some j of the Approved Societies are willing to i show in a practical way their opinion licit it would be an important move for their constituent members, though as yet such a scheme is only official for lire years. The whole tomb noy of therapeutics todav is to include the dentist as a highly valuable specialist, in surgery, while the invidious position caused by the impunity of the dental quack has been remedied.