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362 THE TECHNICAIi PKOCEDUKES IN FILLING TEETH.

Tlie results of this rigid care have been so marked that any other
course seems almost criminal.
For this purpose ordinary base plate gutta-percha has
proven to be by far the most reliable sealing agent. In this
use of it, stickiness is more important than hardness. There-
fore, the cavity should be flooded with eucalyptol and every
part washed with it to remove all moisture by substitution and
then the excess should be removed. Any cotton in the root canal
that has become heavily saturated with the oil should be removed
and fresh cotton, saturated with the medicament wanted and
squeezed dry with a clean napkin, substituted. Then each piece
of gutta-percha used against the cavity walls should be touched
to the eucalyptol after warming, and before placing in the cav-
ity in order to develojj its sticky quality in highest degree. Filled
carefully in this way, the gutta-percha will be a little softer
because of the amount of eucalyptol that becomes diffused
through the mass, but moisture will be perfectly excluded. It
is, therefore, worth much to learn this manipulation well. The
trial that has been made of gutta-percha for the exclusion of
moisture for long periods of time from ocean cables has shown
its absolute impenetrability.
Gutta-percha is too soft for permanent fillings in positions
that are exposed to the stress or friction of mastication. In
some cavities where it will not be exposed to wear, it will do most
excellent service. It is especially to be recommended for filling
cavities in the buccal surfaces of the teeth of old people, espe-
cially those that are in large part in the cementum and extend
beneath the free margin of the gum.
It is often useful as fillings in the temporary teeth for chil-
dren. By renewing it from time to time, these teeth may be made
useful until removed in the shedding process. However, chil-
dren often wear it out of cavities rapidly and it needs to be very
frequently renewed.
Gutta-percha is also very useful in the treatment of sensi-
tive dentin, and in cavities of teeth with hj^peremia of the pulp.
It is tolerated in both of these conditions better than any other
filling material, and, if well put in, will generally stand long
enough to accomplish good results. But to do well in either
of these classes of cases, it must be made to adhere to the walls
of the cavity. Otherwise it is liable on account of its softness
to slight movement in the cavity and to admit moisture. In
that case the condition, especially of sensitive dentin, is liable
to be made worse instead of better.