Many years ago Dr. William H. Atkinson of New York endeavored to induce repair in the sockets of teeth which were deeply affected with alveolitis, by sponge-grafting, a method of surgery then in vogue.
At that time, from 1885 to 1890, the discussion of the etiology and treatment of the diseases of the sockets of the teeth, was at a very high pitch, the name "pyorrhea alveolaris" being then, as it is now, strongly attacked by many as inadequate and misleading. The etiology and pathology and the question whether it should be considered a local or a constitutional disease were also hotly discussed. Since then the methods of treatment have changed very little.
If, however, we knew all the causes and the actual tissues most involved in the repair we should better know how to treat the disease intelligently, and have a greater number of recoveries and those more complete.