The Toothache Germ.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 October 1922, Page 4

The Toothache Germ.

HEALTHY TEETH. LONDON, Aug 30. Very keen, interest is taken in the dental exhibition at the Imperial In- j stitute, where all the latest appliances ( for the perfection of ’ dental services , may be seen, examined, and applied, j It is almost as much an education for j , the dental practitioner as it would be | j for the layman were lie admitted, for, ; j as on previous occasions, the profes- i -sional nature of the exhibition is j ' maintained by the exclusion of the ; general public. . ( What interests others besides dentists is the discovery of the “toothache ; microbe.” Three scientists have been working oil this problem at the Middle sex Hospital, and at the exhibition! . they show slicks of the organism they : • believe to he the cause of the trouble. 1 Professor ,1. Macintosh, Dr Marwick; James, and Professor I’. Lazarus Bar- : low have been trying for a long time ; •to isolate* this microbe, and they be- ; iievo they have succeeded. A germ has been identified by tin se ; researchers, and evidence of its assq- > eintion with this disease produced.’; Other workers believe that it is lie-ce.-sary to look oven farther back than i bacteriology to causes which enable j germs of any sort to flourish in the | mouth’. Certain it is that _ carious j I leeth are seldom the only sign or j symptom of unfitness in those sutler- ■ iag from them. The old-fashioned j idea that strong teeth and luxuriant hair are to he taken as evidence of ; robust general health may yet, it, would ’ sconi, line! a new justification. j During the exhibition it is hoped to j give lectures on investigations recent- ! ly made of the bacterial origin of den- j tivl caries. The theory that decay is j brought about by a germ which lodges j itself in the outer enamel covering is i : an entirely new one, n.ncl it is fitting . . that the subject should be further ex- j ! plored at a. gathering of experts. ELECTRO-TH ERAPEUTICS. • The exhibition also illustrates the; progress that hn.s been made 'in dental ■ electro-therapeutics. The modern den- i hist lias dispensed with the old loot- j pedal grinder, and in its place has in- . stalled an electro-dental apparatus, which, in addition, cap lie used for ; I hot-air cautery, ironic medication, i mouth illumination, electro-sterilisn- j tion, pulp diagnosis, electric vibratory , massage, etc. The whole apparatus ; is contained in a compact nickel-plat- | od table, which can be attached I rum * any lighting plug or lamp-holder. A : rheostat regulator enables the opera- • tor to control the amount of current, j ! and so simple is the entire outfit that ' it requires but the turn of ft switch .to put it in motion. Gas inhalers. , j X-rays, forceps of all shapes and sizes, j and other contrivances which strike , I terror into the heart of the avelage j j visitor to the clculirt’.s operating room ! i are there in abundance, but the “at-j i inesphere” is missing, and the \Lsitoi j ! can inspect, handle, and even criticise i them openlv and fearlessly. . i ! SHADES IN TEETH. | Cases of artificial tcetli, too, make j a striking show—in substance varying from ivorv to solid rock. “Sounds j odd, doesn’t it?” said the representative of one firm in illustrating the , method of blasting *roek. lor ofiitaj purposes. Nevertheless, the base of al j porcelain, from which the, majority u! j artificial teeth are made, is the nun- ; eral feldspar, quarried in much the ■ same way a,s other stones. Artiliem j j teeth, however, require a supremo : grade of feldspar, because they aie the | highest development cf the porcelain j ' art. and the quarters which can boast j of producing dental spar are limited. Many modern porcelain teeth mo shown in all the natural shades that ; camouflage their artificiality, 'f the j Roth show slightly blue or tr.mspari cut at the tips tins can lie imitated ; exactly, and even the discolouration duo to tobacco stain can he copied, so that the artificial dentures will look like twin brothers to the real ones. There are even shown sets of labse teeth as black as ebony, intended for j Siamese married ladies, with whom it j is the custom to stain the teeth black | with betel nut to denote their married ! state.

TREATMENT ON PANEL PLAN. A further move towards stabilising the professional position of the dentist is seen in the desire expressed by a great many r.i’ them to have dental benefit included ns a standard In-nolit under the National Insurance Aits. This is a question which is to he debated at a congress, when it is to be hoped that the Incorporated Dental Society will he able to formulate and support a permanent scheme for the giving of dental treatment on the panel plan. Sonic of the approved societies are .willing to show in a practical way their opinion that it won id he an important move tor their constituent members, though as vet such a scheme is only official lor live years. Ihe whole tendency of therapeutics to-dav i-. to include the dentist as a highly valuable specialist in surgery, whole tlm invidious position caused by the impunity of the dental quack has been remedied.