The following are summaries from Dr Weston Price's book published in the 1920's,
" Dental Infections and the Degenerative Diseases".  

The Italicised sections represent the dental professions old and current beliefs- the regular text represents Price's conclusions from research on literally thousands of patients. I include these summaries to demonstrate that the knowledge that Dr price gave to the world is still far ahead of the current dental thinking and teaching. It should be noted that the techniques and beliefs are not different to any great degree today as they were at the time of writing 1923. To date there is little research which refutes the findings of Dr Price. By far the majority of current endodontic research supports the findings listed below.

No 1 Roentgen Ray limitation

Roentgen rays of teeth will reveal the presence or absence of infection
The apparent extent of the resorption will indicate the extent of the infection.
An area of absorption if present can be disclosed by the X-ray.
A] Roentgenograms do not reveal infection and may or may not reveal its effects.

B] The extent of the absorption does not express the extent of the infection, except in part as the individuals reaction to the infection is understood.

C] An area of absorption of the supporting tissue at the apex of a tooth or laterally, may not be disclosed because of any of the following conditions; 1- being hidden by a part of that tooth, such as another root. 2- A heavy mass of bone such as the malar bone. 3- a layer of condensing osteitis obscuring the area of rarefying osteitis.

No 2 Bacterial Cause

If dental infections produce disturbances in other parts of the body, it is because the organism that has changed to invade that tissue is one having the specific qualities for that invasion and localisation regardless of the host, much as the organisms of erysipelas and mumps will respectively select the skin and parotid gland.

Dental infection involving root canals and their apices and supporting structures practically always contain streptococci, of which, biologically , there are many types or strains any one of which may be the important causative factor for any of the types of rheumatic type group lesions, regardless of biological classification. The elective localisation and attacking qualities are developed by the environment and are, consequently of the soil or host.

No 3 Local - Oral - Structural Changes

A) Dental infection in bone will express itself as absorption

B) A given dental infection will express itself in the local tissue of the mouth approximately the same in all people

A] Dental infection in bone may express itself as absorption , even extensive absorption , or may be attended by very little absorption, or may even be attended by a marked increase in bone density.

B] A given dental infection will not express itself in the local tissues of the mouth approximately the same in all people. People tend to divide into groups with regard to this matter of local reaction, which groups are very dissimilar.

No 4 Systemic reactions - Are Human Beings comparable?

Human beings are similar in their susceptibility to reactions to dental infections or sufficiently so that they may be considered comparable and be so judged by the same standards.

Human beings do not react with sufficiently uniform similarity to justify the premise that they can all be judged by the same standards and, therefore may be comparable in their susceptibility to systemic involvement form dental infections. They can however be divided into groups , the members of which are sufficiently similar to be judged by the same general standards , and they of that group may , therefore be considered comparable. On the basis of this quality of susceptibility , they readily classify in to three groups : those with an inherited susceptibility , those with an acquired susceptibility , and those without a susceptibility to rheumatic group lesions..

5 - Relationships between local and systemic reactions.

Since, according to the presumption all individuals are similar ,and since dental infections are entirely dependant for their characteristics upon the type of organisms which has chanced to secure access therefore there are no characteristics upon the type of organism which has chanced to secure access therefore there are no characteristics of the local tissue pathology which are related to the degree of susceptibility or nature of systemic involvement.

Local dental pathology about an infected tooth has variations which make grouping and classification easily possible on this basis, which groups have a direct relationship with similar groupings that can be made on the basis of susceptibility to rheumatic group lesions. The local and systemic expressions are not only related, but are both symptoms of the same controlling forces and conditions.

No 6 Visible absorption and tooth infection

A) A tooth without visible absorption at its apex is not infected.

B) A tooth with visible absorption at its apex is infected.

A] Teeth without absorption at their apices can be, and frequently are, infected in the pulp, dentine and apical tissue.

B] Teeth with periapical absorption can have the same produced by irritating medication or trauma.

No 7 Caries and pulp infection

Pulps of teeth not exposed by caries are not infected

Teeth with moderate caries frequently and with deep caries generally , have their pulps already infected to some extent through this channel.

No 8 Periodontitis and pulp infection

Pulps of teeth with pockets from periodontitis not involving the apex are not infected.

Teeth with shallow or moderate pockets frequently and with deep pockets usually, have their pulps already infected to some extent from that source.

No 9 Caries and Systemic involvement

Their is no relationship between caries and systemic involvement.

Susceptibility to caries and systemic involvement from dental lesions are proportional, both as cause and effect and as related symptoms.

No10 Periodontitis and systemic involvement

With an increase in susceptibility to periodontitis there is a marked increase in susceptibility to rheumatic group lesions.

Individuals with marked susceptibility to periodontitis have, as a group , a decreased susceptibility to rheumatic group lesions during the period of its active development (In its secondary stages it may contribute to rheumatic group lesions) ; or very marked susceptibility to rheumatic group lesions tend , in general to be free of periodontitis; and when rheumatic susceptibility does develop it would generally be classed as an acquired factor

No11 Periodontal and Apical reactions

There is no relationship between the extent of apical absorption from a pulp involvement and the presence or absence of periodontal absorption from a gingival irritation.

There is a direct relationship between tendency to absorption of alveolar bone in response to irritation , whether at the gingival border or at the root apex. and individuals with extensive periodontitis have for a given dental infection much more extensive areas of absorption at the apex of infected roots , than do patients without a tendency to periodontitis.

No 12 Relation of apical absorption to Danger.

The quantity or extent of the absorption is a measure of the danger, or otherwise expressed , the size or extent of the disclosed area of absorption at e apex of the root of a tooth is directly an expression of the quantity of infection and, therefore a measure of the danger from it.

Since different people react differently ,through a wide range, to a given infection , the extent of the are a of absorption is not a measure of the danger; but on the contrary it may be, and frequently is true that the patient suffering severely from a systemic reaction caused by a dental infection, shows very little absorption compared with that which the same dental infection would produce in a patient with ample and high resistance.

No 13 Nature of fistula discharge.

Flowing pus from a fistula is necessarily, very dangerous to the patient since it is an expression of the quantity of local infection and therefore a measure of the danger from it.

Since an adequately active defence against a dental infection, both locally and systemically , produces a vigorous local reaction with attending extensive absorption and the products of inflammatory reaction, namely, exudate and plasma in sufficient quantities to require an overflow, usually spoken of as pus from a fistula, this overflow may be, and usually is , evidence of an active defence, and is constituted almost wholly of neutralised products and is often sterile, and such a condition is much more safe than the same infected tooth without such an active local reaction.

No 14. Root Canal Medications

A) Infected teeth can be sterilised readily by medication

B) Usual medications do not injure the supporting structures

A] Infected teeth can be completely sterilised in the mouth only with great difficulty, or by the use of medicaments whose irritability readily injures the vitality of the supporting structures of the teeth.

B] Many of the usual methods used for the sterilisation of infected teeth do serious injury to the supporting structures about the teeth.

No 15 Root Canal Fillings.

Root fillings fill root canals and continue to do so.

Root fillings rarely fill pulp canals sufficiently perfectly to shut out bacteria completely or permanently. Root fillings usually fill the pulp canal much less perfectly some time after the operation than at the time of the operation , due to the contraction of the filling material. The ultimate contraction of the root filling is approximately the amount of solvent used where a solvent is used with gutta-percha as a root filling material. Infection is a relative matter , and quantity and danger are both related to defence, which defence may vary from high to incredibly low.

No16 Comfort as a Symptom

Local comfort and efficiency of treated teeth are an evidence and measure of the success of an operation.

Local comfort is not only not a certain index of success or safety , but may constitute both what is probably one of the greatest paradoxes and one of the costliest diagnostic mistakes through injury to health, that exists in dental and medical practice , because it may only mean the absence of local reaction which would , if present, incidentally make the tooth sore ,and fundamentally destroy the infection at its source whereas, the absence of this local reaction and the consequent destruction of the infection products, permits them to pass through the body to irritate and break down that patients most susceptible tissue, which tissue can be anticipated very frequently, if not generally.

No17 Capacity for infection of root filled teeth

When infected teeth produce disturbances in other parts of the body, it is primarily because the patient is overwhelmed by a large quantity of infection.

When infected teeth produce disturbances in other parts of the body it is not necessary that the quantity of infection be large, nor is it demonstrated that it is necessary that organisms always pass through the body or to the special tissues involved, but the evidence at hand strongly suggests that soluble poisons may pass from the infected teeth to the lymph or blood circulation, and produce systemic disturbances entirely out of proportion to the quantity of poison involved. The evidence indicates that this toxic substance may , under certain conditions, sensitise the body or special tissues, so that very small quantities of the toxin or of the organism which produce it, may produce very marked reactions and disturbances in that tissue.

No 18 Studies of pulpless teeth.

Have pulpless teeth injurious contents other than micro organisms?

Infected teeth may contain in addition to micro organisms, toxic substances which produce very profound effects upon experimental animals, and which tend to prepare the tissues of the host, at least in some cases, for a more ready invasion by the organisms from the tooth.

No 19 Haematological Changes in the Blood

What changes are produced on the blood and sera of the body by dental infections?.

Dental infections may produces very serious changes in the blood and sera of the body, some of the most frequent of which are leucopoenia, erythropenia, lympocytosis and haemophilia.

What are the chemical changes that are produced in the blood by acute and chronic dental focal infections.?

Dental focal infections tend to produce in many instances, one of several chemical changes in the blood, which changes also tend to be produced in animals when an infected tooth is placed beneath its skin, and similarly, with certain methods of inoculation with the culture grown from these teeth. Some of the changes most frequently found involve;

a] the Ionic Calcium of the blood.

b] the presence of a pathologically combined quantity of calcium in the blood.

c] a reduction of the alkali reserve of the blood

d] the development of acidosis

e] an increase in blood sugar

f] an increase in uric acid

g] the development of nitrogen retention

h] the development of products of imperfect oxidation

No 21 Contributing overloads which modify defensive factors.

What are contributing factors causing a break in resistance

Dental infections, while potentially harmful, may not be causing apparent or serious injury until the individual is subjected to some other overload, at which time a serious break may come. The chief contributing overloads are;

influenza, malnutrition, exposure, grief, worry, heredity, and age.

No 22 Effective localisation and tissue and organ susceptibility phenomena.

do the organisms of dental infections posses or acquire tissue affinity and elective localisation qualities.?

Dental infections may or may not contain organisms with a specific elective localisation quality for certain tissues of the body. When they do so it is generally because the host is suffering , or has previously suffered, from an acute process in that tissue, which acute process frequently, entirely and permanently, disappears with the removal of the focus of infection. There is evidence to indicate that the complete removal of an organ so affected, does not destroy that elective localisation quality in the micro organisms of the focus. Defence and absence of defence to streptococcal infection as an organ and tissue quality, seems definitely to be related to inheritance, and as such obeys the laws of mendealian characteristics.

No23 Environment produced by infected pulples tooth.

What are the characteristics of the habitat and environment furnished for bacteria in an infected pulpless tooth?

Since an infected tooth is a fortress for bacteria within the body of the host, and since , in accordance with the laws governing solvents and solutes , the dissolved substances within the tooth can pass to the outside of it, and, similarly, the dissolved substances outside the tooth, san pass to the inside of it, together with the fact the defensive mechanisms of the body are quite unable to enter and reach the bacteria within the tooth except in exceedingly small numbers through the natural openings of the root, which openings will, however , permit the organisms to pass at will from within the tooth to the outside, we must conclude that an infected tooth furnishes a condition and environment that is tremendously in favour of the invading organism inhabiting it, as compared with the host, since the latter may only rid itself of the menace by exfoliating it or absorbing it.

No24 Elective localisation and organ defence.

Do diseased organs and tissues modify bacteria growing in the distant focus, or create in them a capacity for localisation for those diseased tissues?

We are led to conclude from the available data, that we do not as yet have sufficient information to draw a close distinction between the influences of the organisms on the affected organ, in contradistinction to the influences of the diseased organ upon the organisms in the focus. The available data suggest strongly, if they do not definitely indicate, that both these conditions exist, in some instances, either one acting entirely alone, and in some others there are indications that both exist at the same time.

No25 Relation of Irritant to Type of Reaction

Have we different products from dental infection?

The evidence available indicates that infected teeth elaborate two distinctly different products, one being bacteria, and the other a toxic substance or group of toxic substances, which, independently of the organisms developing them, may produce various and profound disturbances in tissues in various parts of the body, one of the important group of disturbances being that of the blood stream.

No26 Chemotaxis as a Means for Increasing Defence

Can defence for streptococcal infections be increased by introducing enterally or parentally (by ingesting or injecting) chemicals?

These preliminary experiments would seem to suggest that, means can be developed which will eventually assist, by chemical means in the defence of the body against the invading streptococcal organisms of dental origin or from other sources which produce the rheumatic group lesions.

No27 The Effect of Radiation on Dental Pathological Lesions.

Can periodontoclasia and apical abscess and inflammation be cured by various types of radiation?

a)These three formes of radiation - namely, Roentgen-ray, radium radiation, and ultraviolet as generated from mercury vapour and quartz tube - have definite effect on cell resistance and proliferation, and thus directly upon tissue reaction expressions such as pus, bacterial invasion, and granulation.

b)Some of these forces are apparently definitely harmful; others are apparently definitely helpful.

No28 Gingival Infections, Their Pathology and Significance

Are the present theories regarding the aetiology of periodontoclasia, or so-called pyorrhoea alveolar, correct?

a) Inflammatory processes of the tissues about the teeth are a direct expression, and therefore a measure of the vital capacity for reaction of that individual to an irritant, during those stages of these lesions, characterised by an abnormally high vital reaction.
b)The individual, who has had this capacity for a very active reaction to the presence of irritants, may pass into a condition or state in which he or she has lost that high defensive factor, at which time several changes develop including a cessation of the absorption of alveolar bone, a lowering of the alkalinity of the periodontoclasia pockets, a change in their bacterial flora, all of which may provide under these later conditions a focus for systemic infection of the most dangerous type, though they may have ceased to have evidence either of local inflammatory disturbance, or exudate as pus.

c) To the ordinary observer, lay or professional, these two very dissimilar states are considered to be similar or identical though they potentially very different.

d) These different periodontal expressions or reactions to irritations are accompanied by, and doubtless related to, changes in the ionic calcium and alkali reserve of the blood.

No29 Aetiological Factors in Dental Caries

What are the dominant aetiological factors in dental caries?

Dental caries is dependent upon the following factors:

a) A reduction in the hydrogen ion concentration of the normal environment of the tooth.

b) An acid producing bacterium.

c) A change in the chemical constituents of the pabulum bathing the tooth.

No 30 The Nature of Sensitisation Reactions

Do dental infections produce sensitizations of an anaphylactic character?

a) Teeth contain substances other than bacteria to which the individual may become sensitized, and which substances may, in addition, have strong toxic properties.

b) The evidence here presented suggests that dental infections are capable of producing in an individual a state of anaphylactic sensitisation, which condition may entirely and apparently permanently disappear with the removal of the dental infections. These disturbances may occur in dermal tissues, mucous membranes of the nose and throat, lacrimal tissues, mucous membranes of the bronchioles and air passages, as asthma, and the mucous membranes of the digestive tract and a number of other types of tissues.

No 31 Pre cancerous Skin Irritations

Are there relationships between pre cancerous skin irritations and dental infections?

The evidence available suggests:

a) That dental infections may produce localised anaphylactic reactions, as irritations of the skin and mucous membranes.

b) That these sensitizations may develop into pre cancerous conditions.

No 32 Dental Infections and Carbohydrate Metabolism

What, if any, is the relationship between dental infections and carbohydrate metabolism?

Dental infections may produce marked changes in carbohydrate metabolism and probably structural and degenerative changes in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas, with the production of hyperglycaemia and glycosuria.

No 33 Marasmus

Why do people with rheumatic group lesions tend to be underweight?

Dental infections, when they affect the patient systemically, frequently, if not generally, produce a depression of the individual's weight; and marasmus, whether mild or severe, may be considered one of the diagnostic symptoms in studying the relation of dental infections to general health.

No 34 Pregnancy Complications

Do dental infections have a bearing on pregnancy complications?

a) These researches have shown that in animals, infections from dental origin may have a very far-reaching effect on each the expectant mother and her foetus, which latter may be prematurely expelled or may be rendered lifeless.

b) Inasmuch as a large number of our serious cases of rheumatism, heart, and kidney involvements, have their origin at the time of pregnancy in humans, in which cases our clinical histories show that there have been present extensive dental focal infections, it is suggested as important, if not imperative, that expectant mothers shall be free from dental focal infections, both for their own safety and efficiency and for the continued vitality of the foetus.

No 35 Spirochaete and Amoeba Infections

Do organisms other than streptococci enter the human system through dental infections?

While the streptococcus seems universally to be present in dental infections in practically all cases of systemic involvement, in addition to this variety the evidence seems to establish that each staphylococci and spirochaetes may pass from infected teeth to other tissues and proliferate in localised areas; and, similarly, that when certain mixed strains are injected into experimental animals, localised spirochaete infections may develop in their tissues. Systemic involvements from spirochaete infections and their localisation in experimental animals are, however, relatively rare.

No 36 Nutrition and Resistance to Infection

What is the relation of nutrition to resistance to dental infection?

The data at hand suggest:

a) That the effects of variations in the diet do not express themselves quickly in specific defence.

b) That variations in diet by the limitation of various vitamins produces effects which, in general, are similar to those of overload.

c) Deficiency diets, particularly disturbances resulting in a calcium hunger, tend directly to lower the defence to dental infections.

No 37 The Relation of the Glands of Internal Secretion to Dental Infections and Developmental Processes.

What is the relation of the glands of internal secretion to dental infections in developmental processes?

We would summarise these studies as follows:

a) Dysfunctions of various of the glands of internal secretion are often very materially corrected, and sometimes completely so, by the removal of dental focal infections.

b) Involvements have frequently been produced in similar endocrine tissues of the animals by inoculating them with the cultures from the teeth of the involved patients.

c) The administration of the extracts of the glands of internal secretion, particularly of the parathyroid, is shown to be of distinct benefit in certain cases of depressed ionic calcium of the blood, due in part to dental focal infections, where this improvement has been absent or slow following the removal of the dental infections.

d) An improvement has been produced in individuals, which we interpret to be due to a stimulation of the pituitary body, which in turn doubtless stimulates other ductless glands and together with them produces a marked change in both physical and mental states.

No 38 The Nature and Function of the Dental Granuloma.

Is the dental granuloma a pus sac and its size a measure of the danger?

a) The so-called granuloma is a misnomer, for it is a defensive membrane and not a

neoplasm.

b) A normally functioning periapical quarantine tissue is Nature's effective mechanism for protecting that individual by destroying the organisms and toxins immediately at their source, and thereby completely prevent the tissues of that individual's body from exposure to either of these agencies.

No 39 Changes in the Supporting Structures of the Teeth, Due to Infection and Irritation Processes

What are the changes produced in the supporting structures of the teeth, which are due to infection and irritation processes?

Characteristic localised structural changes develop in the supporting structures of teeth when the latter carry infection within their structures. These changes are, however, determined chiefly by the host and are an expression of the reacting characteristics of the host rather than an expression of the invading bacterium.

No 40 Dental Involvement Caused By Arthritis

Can arthritic infections of the body attack and devitalise the Teeth?

a) It will be seen from these data that a systemic involvement of multiple arthritis may, while attacking various joints of the body, also attack those of the joints of the teeth; and, further, that this process of inflammation with degenerative and proliferative processes may cause the involvement and ultimate death of the pulp.

b) The involvement of these teeth as a result of the progressive systemic arthritis may in turn, and doubtless frequently, if not generally, does aggravate the general condition, for the tooth structure when it becomes infected is even less capable of vasculariztion and therefore less amenable to the processes of defence than is bone. This stresses the very great importance that individuals having deforming arthritis shall have most careful dental inspection and care, and also, since it is one of the most horrible of living deaths, every effort should be made to prevent the beginning of that process; and since the evidence is so overwhelming that the initial infection frequently, if not generally, comes from the teeth, helpless humanity deserves pity until the powers that be shall make a worthy effort to find the means that will prevent this needless catastrophe in so many lives.

No 41 Variations in the Defensive Factors of the Blood

Is there a difference in the defensive factors of the blood of susceptible and non-susceptible individuals to systemic involvements from dental infections?

There is a marked difference, which is readily measurable in the bactericidal properties of the bloods of individuals of high defence, as compared with those of low defence to systemic involvements from dental infections.

No 42 Methods for Reinforcing a Deficient Defence

Can a temporarily or permanently low defence against the streptococci of dental infections be increased or enhance either temporarily or permanently?

In some individuals a low defence may be materially strengthened by the use of vaccines and also by the use of all available means for stimulating metabolism and increasing a supply of essential nutritional factors.

No 43 Serophytic Micro organisms

What are the growth factors of micro organisms of the mouth in juices of living tissues?

When the mixed flora of the oral cavity are planted in the normal blood serum or lymph, the varieties that grow are almost entirely limited to the strains of diplo-and strepto-cocci, with occasional staphylococci, with the diplo- and strepto-cocci largely predominating.

No 44 Calcium and Acid-Alkali Balance

What is the role of calcium to the maintenance of the acid-alkali balance of the blood, other body fluids, and tissues?

In the proper functioning of the body the end products of metabolism are carbon dioxide, urea, and water. When metabolic functions are abnormal, resulting in the imperfect oxidation with the development of less simple acids than carbon dioxide these must be neutralised with bases taken from the body and its fluids. In the absence of an adequate supply of these from other sources, the demand must be met by the calcium of the body, first from the circulating ionic calcium, then from the calcified tissues. This latter is the characteristic end reaction involved in periodontoclasia, or pyorrhoea alveolar. This enters into and complicates the aetiology of many, if not most, of the rheumatic group disturbances studied in detail in subsequent chapters.

No  45 Symptoms and Danger

Since individuals are similar in their reactions to dental infections, both locally and systemically, and since freedom from involvements is dependable, the danger is proportional to the quantity and to the type or virulence of the dental infection involved and the patient's symptoms.

Since patients largely determine the biological qualities of the organisms involved in dental infections by the culture medium they furnish the bacteria, and since the sufficiently high defence of certain individuals will, under ordinary conditions, protect them from systemic injury resulting from their dental infections, and since the local oral expressions of the dental infection are an indication and a measure of that individual's reaction to the dental infection rather than a measure of that infection, therefore, it becomes apparent that the operation that is indicated is an individual factor and concerns the relation of the efficiency of the patient's defence to the attacking power of the dental infections and, accordingly, operations which are strongly indicated for some individuals are as strongly contraindicated for others.

No 46 Diagnosis

An adequate procedure for making dental diagnosis is a roentgenorgraphic study of the patient, for which the only requisite training is a working knowledge of the apparatus and a familiarity with dental anatomy sufficient properly to call the teeth by their names.

An adequate procedure for making a dental diagnosis will involve, as a minimum, the following:

A knowledge of the patient's systemic defence and systemic involvements, both present and past. The securing of this will involve:

a) A knowledge of the various systemic disturbances that may be produced or aggravated by the dental infection, with or without the patient's recognition of their existence. A knowledge of the systemic disturbances includes, for differentiating purposes, a knowledge of the aetiological pathology of the involved tissues of most of the morbid conditions of the human body, regardless of the type of tissue or the involved nature of the functions. These are based upon a thorough knowledge of the gross and minute anatomy of the various organs and tissues of the body, and the normal functions of those tissues, with special reference to the nervous system.

b) A roentgenographic study, with a knowledge that is physically impossible for the Roentgen-rays to disclose much of the essential information, the roentgenogram being simply a record of relieve total densities of the planes involved.

c) A familiarity with the use of the microscope and such laboratory technique as serological study of the fluids of the body, since many of the lesions, being produced or aggravated by dental infections, are in evidence by microscopic and chemical methods long before they appear clinically as symptoms.

No 47 Diagnosticians

Dental diagnosis is so simple that any dentist or physician, osteopath, chiropractor, electrical engineer or laboratory assistant, is competent to perform this simple service.

Dental diagnosis is so intricate and involved that it requires a greater knowledge of the human body, its structure and diseases, and of the various means for understanding the normality and abnormality of the same, than any specialty of the healing arts; and probably no specialty finds such great opportunity for doing injury to humanity, or for extending human life, as does the highest application of intelligence in this field. A competent diagnostician of the local and systemic expressions of dental infections must be familiar with the clinical and structural pathology required for a general medical diagnosis, and, in addition, be completely familiar with each dental anatomy, dental pathology, and dental operative procedure.

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