Page 76 - My FlipBook

46 HISTOIIY OF DENTAL SUKGERY

teeth for the upper or lower jaw. The detail of his technie is exceedingly
veniarkable, the position of thnnib and fingers of the operator is described and
t!ie grasji of the instruments, lie gives a complete description of the use
of the file and mentions files especially adapted for this purpose, and speaks
of files that are cut only on one side so as to avoid injuring the tooth opposite
to the one to be operated upon. He describes and illustrates eight varieties
of files.

Files.

He continues: "Of all the instruments which are used in the mouth,
those which are used for filling the teeth with lead have to be made the strong-
est, as great force is applied in all directions when the lead is introduced and
condensed. It is, therefore, necessary that these instruments should he par-
ticularly well seated in their handles and be supplied with strong ferrules."
He also suggests that in cases where the fillings are placed in an occlusal
surface, that is in apposition with the opposing teeth, that the force of masti-
cation will assist in the condensation of the lead, or "that the patient may bite
upon the instrument and thus assist in condensing."