Sausalito News, Volume 32, Number 16, 15 April 1916 — Anesthetic for the Teeth. [ARTICLE]

Anesthetic for the Teeth.

There Is no local anesthetic that will penetrate dentine, which forms the principal part of a tooth. That is why dentists hurt teeth so much when drilling holes In them for fillings or when grinding them down for gold crowns. Anyone who will Invent something that can be put on a tooth to render it insensitive for ten minutes, without Injuring It, has a fortune awaiting him.

Cocaine and novocalne, which are used as local anesthetics In other parts of the body, have no effect upon the teeth, as they cannot penetrate the hard tissue of which these are composed.