Page 169 - My FlipBook

GUTTA-PERCHA IN FILLING TEETH 165

dipping a smooth broach in the container. The canals should have
been previously flooded Avith oil of eucalyptol, and the chlora-
percha mixed with the eucalyptol in the root canal resulting in
what may be termed euco-percha. The eucalyptol may be added
to the chlora-percha in the bottle, but the method given first is for
various reasons the better.
For Canal Points. Gutta-percha is the standard material for
canal points which should be at hand in various sizes to suit all
cases.
These may be manufactured by the dentist, but with little econ-
omy, as they are well made by machinery. Those which are flat-
tened on the larger end are the most handy to use. Such may be
had from your dealer, or the assistant can flatten them as pur-
chased by placing them on a glass mixing slab and pressing each
large end Avith a smooth cold steel instrument.
Slow Separation. Gutta-percha for slow separation in proximo-
occlusal cavities is unexcelled, the force of mastication doing the
work slowly but surely. This fact prohibits the use of gutta-
l)ercha as a permanent filling in Class Two cavities.
Temporary Stopping, as purchased from the dealer, is gutta-
percha to which wax has been added to render it more plastic
when warmed. This is ideal for sealing in dressings, excepting
when arsenic has been used, in Avhich case poorly mixed amalgam
is better.