Note (38) — CANTO FOURTH.
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The benefits of the operation of stopping the teeth are so truly important, that it is impossible to recommend it too earnestly to the public; for thousands of the most useful teeth, which otherwise would, on account of their painfulness, be sacrificed by extraction, may thus be preserved, not only for many years, but for the remainder of a long life.
The finest teeth are commonly the most highly organized, and therefore become more acutely painful when only a very small portion is decayed. The operation of stopping will always succeed, if performed before the decay has reached the sensible part of the tooth, unless its cavity be superficial, or of a funnel shape, and not capable of being sufficiently deepened for retaining the gold. In such cases, all attempts at stopping it will be fruitless. But if the depth be sufficient towards the sensible part of the tooth to allow of the excavation being made larger, or directed obliquely or otherwise, as may be most eligible for receiving and securing the gold, the caries may be so effectually arrested as to cause no farther uneasiness to the patient.
“There is no object connected with dental surgery of more importance than that of stopping. There is none better deserving the attention of the student, nor is there any in which the dentist may more successfully display his professional skill. Were we to judge, indeed, from the almost innumerable cases of failure which occur, we might conclude that the uncertainty of the operation was so great as essentially to diminish its utility and importance. These cases, however, generally occur under the management of ignorant persons, who are alike incompetent to the mechanical and the surgical part of the operation, and who are equally incapable of choosing a proper time for its performance.” (Snell on the Teeth, p. 151.)
“If properly done,” says Dr. Fitch, “this is one of the most useful operations in dental surgery; and if practicable, it bears the preference to any other operation for the cure of diseased teeth. It should be an object of solicitude in every case, when we are called upon to extract or file the teeth, to obviate both operations by plugging them, if in any way expedient or practicable.” (Fitch on the Teeth, p. 398.)
“I have no hesitation in affirming this to be one of the most important and useful operations that can be performed.” (Sigmond.)
“By the beautiful and useful operation of stopping or plugging teeth which are greatly decayed by caries, they may be preserved for many years; in most instances during the remainder of life: and not unfrequently, from ten to twenty teeth may be preserved by this operation in the same individual.” (Koecker.)