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138 THE TECHNICAL PROCEDURES IN FILLING TEETH.

of all overhanging enamel and that the surrounding walls be
freed from carious material, perfectly cleaned to solid dentin,
and cut to a form that will certainly retain a temporary filling for
the purpose of sealing in applications that may be required in
the treatment of the pulp. It is not required here that the
cavity be cut to the full outline form, as it will be prepared to
receive the permanent filling later ; nor that permanent anchor-
ages be provided ; but it is required that good and sufficient
anchorage be provided for a temporary gutta-percha filling
against good clean surrounding walls in every part. It should
be opened sufficiently wide to admit of the free and easy appli-
cation of instruments for the exposure of the pulp. In doing
this especial care should be taken that the instruments used be
not directed toward the pulp of the tooth and that it be not
interfered with in any way until after the surrounding walls are
clean and solid in every direction. This excavation is to be
done upon the principles already laid down for the excavation
of cavities in the class to which the case in hand belongs. If
the rubber dam has not been placed at the beginning, it should
be placed now and every preparation made for the best possible
view of the deeper parts of the cavity. The next step is the
removal of the carious material from the deeper parts of the
cavity— the axial or pulpal wall— and from about the expo-
sure. In case the exposure is large and the pulp is already
laid bare, this need not be very perfectly done at first, the ne-
cessity being that applications can be laid directly upon the pulp
tissue and perfectly sealed in place by a temporary filling. In
case the pulp is covered with carious material only this
should be removed and the tissue of the pulp laid bare.
In every position this should be done with the broadest cutting
instrument that is applicable to the position, usually with the
spoons. One should never undertake to remove softened mate-
rial from over a pulp with an instrument so small that it is liable to
penetrate through the opening into the pulp chamber, lacerate
the pulp tissue, and inflict unnecessary pain. This should be
taken as a principle controlling every procedure in this class of
cases, and the operator should see to it particularly that the cav-
ity be so opened and prepared that broad points may be used
with facility. When these preparations have been made, if the case
be other than a proximate cavity in the incisors, take the spoon