Dentistry In The 19th Century

HISTORY
The development of dentistry during the 19th century in combination with the germ theory of disease had a direct effect on the practice of dentistry. Irrigation in 19th century
Literature from this period mostly contained numerous empirically based recommendations for a variety of rinsing agents and medicaments, such as pulp extirpation under a pool of oil of eucalyptus and cloves was advocated, the rationale being that these oils would penetrate the canal as the nerve was removed. Arsenic was introduced by Shearjashub Spooner et al (1836)4 to destroy the nerves of the teeth without causing pain. However, some cases of fatal consequences were reported due to the use of Arsenic and daily dressing with thorough canal irrigation was

5 At this time the purpose of irrigation was to remove irritants that have been induced by the products of decomposition. Instruments similar to Barbs and broaches were assumed to be the chief “cleansers” of the root canal and when combined with hot air from a syringe it was considered possible to achieve complete canal debridement. Another indication for irrigation was to remove a firmly attached intracanal cotton dressing placed in the canal to stop pulpal

This was the first formal experimental work on root canal irrigation. They compared the solvent action of several agents like enzymol, galactone lactone, double strength chlorinated soda, potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide and found double strength chlorinated soda solution to be the most effective pulp tissue solvent among those solutions.
Arguably, the major development in root canal irrigation during this period was the introduction of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) to endodontics with A.B.Crane most likely the earliest published advocate of the solution.10 In the endodontic field, NaOCl possess a broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against endodontic microorganisms and biofilms, including microbiota difficult to eradicate from root canals, such as Enterococcus, Actinomyces and Candida organisms. NaOCl has the ability to oxidize and hydrolyze cell proteins and also has tissue solvent capacity, increasing its value as an irrigant solution.11 It has been used as wound irrigants since at least 1915, and as an endodontic irrigant as early as