70 THE I^E-UNION OF TEETH 



the person giving up his sound tooth, to my 

 mind renders the operation at all times unjusti- 

 fiable; the improvement in the manufacture of 

 artificial teeth since those days certainly makes 

 the attempt unnecessary. 



In conclusion, I will say a few words on the 

 treatment I should recommend where it is de- 

 sirable to replace a dislocated tooth. 



If a tooth be still in the socket, but consi- 

 derably below its normal position, a coagulum 

 having formed above it, and the bleeding stopped, 

 I should remove the tooth entirely, place it in 

 warm water, and then clear the alveolar cavity 

 of the clotted blood, with a syringe and probe 

 covered with lint. Should this operation not in- 

 duce bleeding of the periosteum, I think it might be 

 desirable to scarify it, and then replace the tooth, 

 pressing it firmly to its original position. By this 

 means, the tooth will be brought into more per- 

 fect contact with the alveolar surface than could 

 have been effected had the coagulum not been 

 removed; and the circulation being restored in 

 the periosteum, there is more probability of its 

 being commimicated to the tooth. After holding 

 it in its position for half an hour at least, fine 

 silk should be laced betweeen the adjoining teeth, 

 passing both on the outside and inside of the 

 replaced tooth. "Warm water should be held in 

 the mouth occasionally during two or three hours ; 

 the patient be kept in a passive ^tate, all excite- 



