Degenerative Disease Caused by Tooth Infections-Case Histories -Kidney Trouble,Stomach Ulcers

Originally Dr. Price believed kidney infections onlyMost dentists would say that even though this
remotely related to dental focal infections. Hepatient had severe osteitis, her root canal fillings
eventually found, however, many 30 to 40 yearappeared satisfactory and the root of the upper
olds were developing nephritis (kidney disease)left second bicuspid appeared relatively easy to
without the disease being suspected by thetreat. However, a culture taken from other teeth
patient or the physician. Invariably, these patientsand inoculated into a rabbit produced the ulcer you
were also found to have definite dental infections.see in the accompanying picture.
Kidney Trouble:Most who do endodontic treatments would have
Originally Dr. Price believed kidney infections onlymisjudged the extent of the infection present in
remotely related to dental focal infections. Hethese teeth and their relationship to the patient's
eventually found, however, many 30 to 40 yearsix years of ill health, which cleared on removal of
olds were developing nephritis (kidney disease)her upper teeth.
without the disease being suspected by theOvarian Cysts:
patient or the physician. Invariably, these patientsLacking in the medical and dental literature of Dr.
were also found to have definite dental infections.Price's time was any teaching about acute and
The case report of a 41 year old married womanchronic infections of the sex organs, or any
who was suffering from rheumatism and heartmention of their relationship to focal infection. Dr.
trouble is of particular interest. A routine urinePrice found that a large number of women with
analysis also disclosed kidney involvement. Herovarian gland difficulties had infected teeth, or
extracted tooth was cultured and a rabbitteeth which contained root canal fillings.
inoculated in a vein with one cc of the 24-hour oldEven though most women made excellent
culture. After 49 days, the rabbit died; autopsyrecoveries when infected teeth were removed,
results are shown in the in the pictures on theDr. Price stated he could not determine whether
following page.the bacteria had an ability to select a woman's
Stomach Ulcers:ovaries, tubes and uterus or whether their
Another case concerned a 43 year old womanpresence aggravated already compromised
who had been an invalid for six years sufferingtissues. Over a thousand rabbits were used to
from vervousness, neuritis, and nervousstudy the causes of these frequent female
indigestion. These symptoms were associatedproblems.
indigestion. These symptoms were associatedA good example of the many cases investigated
with neuralgic pains that occurred at her waistline.concerns a 20 year old unmarried woman whose
Such cases were usually grouped together as adistress at the time of her menstrual period was
alimentary trac and associate organ lesions, asso severe she was bed-ridden for several days.
they involved the digestive tract, the gall bladder,In time it became obvious her physical and mental
stomach, intestinal indigestion, and the appendix.health was being seriously affected.
Because this patient had a severe amount ofReview of the history of her difficulties showed
condensing osteitis (dense bone just below thethat some five years previously she was hit by a
roots), and such cases usually showed little x-raygolf ball over her left ovary. She did not think the
evidence of infection, all of her upper teeth wereevent significant as there was no evidence of
removed. This brought a prompt improvement inlocal injury and only a short period of discomfort.
the patient's health which allowed her to return toAt the time she did have some infected teeth
previous activities.which she carried during the intervening period.