Page 224 - My FlipBook

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204 Artificial Teeth.
next to the gum, and their great variety of tints ; and third,
their great variety of shape, position, and from collateral cir-
cumstances. To overcome all these difficulties, has long
been considered a desideratum, and at length, after an infinity
of experimental research, has been accomplished by the inde-
fatigable exertions of a few scientific men.
Mineral teeth possess such great advantages over all other
kinds of teeth, that it is to be hoped, that their general use
will soon banish all others from dentistry : they are greatly
to be preferred for these reasons;
First—Natural or animal teeth will decompose more or less
rapidly in the mouth : in some mouths, they will not last more
than two or three years ; in others, they will last six or seven ;
as a general rule, they will not last more than five years, and
then must be renewed. Mineral teeth are indestructible, and
therefore in the end are a great saving in expense.
A stump to which an artificial tooth is attached, will last
much longer if a mineral tooth, instead of a natural one, be
employed, because the natural tooth beginning to decompose,
occasions the stump to decay. A mineral tooth does not pro-
duce this effect.
Second—The natural or animal teeth soon begin to decom-
pose, and become exceedingly fetid and disgusting. The
mineral teeth are always sweet and clean.
The great objection made to mineral teeth, heretofore, has
been, that they did not sufficiently imitate nature. The
French porcelain teeth which are brought to this country in
great quantities ; also, those manufactured here by most per-
sons, do not possess the characteristic appearances of the natu-
ral teeth, and therefore are detected at a glance.
Mineral teeth are made in America, in much greater per-
fection, than in any other part of the world, if we can judge
from the numerous specimens that have fallen under our ob-
servation.
To mention the names of those individuals, who, in our
opinion, manufacture mineral teeth in the greatest perfec-