Date of Award

6-1931

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Dentistry

Abstract

The word periodontoclasia is derived from three Greek roots: peri, -around; odons, tooth; klasio, destruction. Having the same literal meaning in dentistry, it is the destruction by bacterial or other causes of the tissues of the periodontum.

Periodontoclasia is also called periclasia for a short term, and it is almost identical in meaning to the older term pyorrhoea alveolaris.

To make a complete study of a disease includes an understanding of it from beginning to end, the history of the disease, the etiology, the pathology, the symptoms, the prognosis , and the treatment.

Like all other diseases, of which little is known, periodontoclasia or periclasia has up to a comparatively few years been regarded as a curse of God without rhyme or reason. It was expected that as people grew older many of them would lose their teeth by loosening and that various other afflications (sic) such as rheumatism would occurr (sic). It was not until the beginning of the world war that the profession began to study seriously and understand this disease. However, up to this time some valuable clinical observations had been made. It was discovered that the periodontal tissues could be kept in a healthy condition, in many instances, by scaling the teeth and keeping them clean. The dentists believed that the disease was in some way related to rheumatism, diabetes, and other systemic conditions. It was known to be a disease of later life and that certain racial or social groups were greatly predisposed to it while others seemed fairly immune.

Comments

... being a thesis submitted for a degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery

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