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CHAPTER XXV.
MANIPULATION OF SILICATE IN THE MAKING OF A

FILLING.
Definition. Materials for Silicate Fillings are marketed under
trade names which no doubt suit the purposes of the various manu-
facturers, and there can be no just criticism offered from the stand-
point of the tradesman. However some confusion exists among the
members of the dental profession as to the correct term to use which
is broad enough to cover all of this class of fillings and not desig-
nate any special make. We will therefore consider some definitions
from Webster's "Unabridged Dictionary."
Silicate (a noun) *'is a salt composed of silicic acid and a l)ase."
Silicate from which we make fillings is made by silicatization.
Silicatization (a noun) "is tlie process of combining Avith silica,
so as to change to a silicate," which is, chemically speaking, a syn-
—
thetic process, "the uniting of elements to form a compound."
Porcelain (a noun). "A fine translucent kind of earthenware,"
named after the shell "Poreellana" "either on account of its smooth-
ness and whiteness, or because it was believed to be made from it."
Cement (a noun) wlien used as a noun is, "Any substance used
for making ])odies adhere to each other, as mortar, glue, etc."
Cement (a transitive verb). "To unite by the application of a
substance which causes bodies to adhere together."
Cement (an intransitive A'erb). "To unite or become solid; to
unite and cohere."
Cementation (a noun). "The act of uniting by a suitable sub-
stance." Chemical definition: "A process which consists in sur-
rounding a solid body with the powder of other substances, and heat-
ing the whole to a degree not sufficient to cause fusion, the physical
properties of the body being changed by chemical combination with
the powder; thus iron becomes steel by cementation with charcoal
and green glass porcelain, by cementation with sand."
Enamel (a noun). "A substance of the nature of glass, but more
fusible and nearly opaque,—with a variety of colors; also other ma-
terials used for giving a highly polished ornamental surface." Ana-
tomical definition: "The smooth, hard substance which covers the
crown or visible part of a tooth, overlying the dentine."
From the foregoing references to Webster it would seem that the
term "silicate filling" is correct when used to name this kind of
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