Date of Award

6-1929

Document Type

Thesis - Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Dentistry

Abstract

Infection in the jaws is not a modern disease. Centuries ago tooth abscesses were common among the Egyptians of the pre-dynastic period, as well as of the Old and Middle Empires. In a study, which was made at the Peabody Museum of a large number of Egyptain crania, it was found that as far back as 4800 B. C. people suffered from alveolar abscesses . This was evident from the bone destruction seen around diseased teeth. The condition however arose then from a source different from its origin today. Instead of decay leading to the pulp infection, the primary cause w s abrasion of the tooth surface, that is, wearing away of the tooth until the pulp became exposed. This abnormal wear on the teeth was caused by the coarseness of the food, as well as by the grit present in their cornmeal, after its preparation in the stone mortars. The infection, which gained entrance in this way, proceeded through the opening in the root into the surrounding bone, as it does today, In those days, however, the opening of the tooth was not sealed up by a root canal filling and so there was a permanent outlet for accumulating pus.

Comments

Being a thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery

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