Page 120 - My FlipBook

106 METHODS OF FILLING TEETH.

Should the occur nearer the neck of the tooth, in
exception. cavity
of incisors, or in a or in either of
the bulbous portion cuspid bicuspid,
which there is considerable tooth-substance laterally from labial to
and should there be limited
lingual aspects, very space in which to work,
it may often be both permissible and advantageous to form the cavity
as a single deep pit. Fig. in shows such a condition in a cuspid,
the dotted line a showing the inner extension toward the palatal aspect.
In filling these cavities with gold, I follow strictly the rule pre-
viously advanced, to place in a cavity only pellets which will pass the
orifice without compression. I therefore prepare special pellets, tiny
in size, and use sometimes as many as a dozen or more for a filling
which when finished is no larger than the head of a small pin. Thus
I am satisfied that I obtain as perfect a filling as when the cavity is
larger and therefore easier.
Fig. 112 shows the opposite extreme, and we have the largest ap-
in a central incisor, without on
proximal cavity possible encroaching
either the palatal or labial surface. The preparation of this and of all
cavities between it and the one in Fig. no comes immediately under
the rule as already described in connection with Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive.
To fill with gold, the first pellet should be placed in the palato-gin-
extension at a, and should be fixed so that the second
gival firmly
and all subsequent pellets may be added without tipping out. The
should be first extended the in the direc-
filling along palatal groove
tion of b, great care being observed that this palatal edge shall be
perfectly covered. Next, gold is carried toward and into the labio-
gingival extension at c, after which the completion follows naturally,
the labial edge being covered last, and the last pellet of gold being
placed at d. If this be analyzed, it will be found that I have here fol-
' '
lowed the general and most valuable rule, Fill that part of the cavity
first -which is farthestfrom you." If we may fill teeth by rule at all,
I should say that this one axiom has been of greater benefit to me in
than other in the whole realm of Its no less
practice any dentistry.
' ' Where two
important corollary is, approximal cavities, adjacent to
each other ; are to be filled, fill that one first which would be least access-
' '
ible were the other tooth non-carious.
In Fig. 113 we see a large approximal cavity which encroaches upon
the labial surface. Under ordinary circumstances this should give the
operator little or no trouble. In addition to the space obtained by the
wedging, the fact that a part of the labial surface is absent furnishes
an abundance of space in which to work. Yet the mistake should not
be made that the itselfaffords sufficient
cavity space without wedging.
In a few instances this may be true, but more frequently a filling so
when look of the
placed completed, though it may perfect to the eye
would not to be so ifexamined an expert. The
patient, prove by palatal