Page 164 - My FlipBook

METHODS OF FILLING TEETH.
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having been permanently in place for over a year, I simply filled trie
with
entire cavity gold, building against the gold band at the point
where it was visible through the approximal opening. When the time
came for removing the retainer, the wire was cut and the band around
this tooth allowed to remain in place permanently, appearing as an
open gold crown. This will suggest a method which I have in many
cases used with success. That is, where a molar is imperfect, or badly
undermined along any .surface, communicating with a crown a
cavity,
band such as in the above case may be made and cemented about the
tooth, before the insertion of a filling.
Where a crown cavity emerges at the buccal con-
aspect, leaving
siderable dentine bridging the part between, it may be filled with a
continuous gold filling, by first closing the buccal opening with oxy-
phosphate and allowing it to set. Then the crown may be filled, and
this done the phosphate may be removed from the buccal part and the
continued. With amalgam this would not be I
filling necessary.
once had a case where the pulp had died, the cavity in the crown
being quite extensive. Removal of decay disclosed the fact that caries
had penetrated the palatal side of the tooth, forming a long groove
below the gum-line. A piece was cut from German silver, which,
wrapped around the tooth, allowed an extension to pass between the
tooth and the gum at the affected point, and so reached the opening.
This was held in place by winding flax thread around the tooth, and
the cavity was filled with amalgam from the crown, the material being
packed against the German silver. This avoided forcing the amal-
the and saved the of
gam through against gum, annoyance passing
burnishers below the gum, which when attempted caused profuse
hemorrhage.
This will be an for the union of two
opportune place considering
or more teeth by a single filling. This may be done either for secur-
ing a bridge in position, or where, one tooth being loose, we wish to
support it by permanently uniting it with its neighbor. It has been
claimed by men of repute that these operations can be successfully
accomplished by simply holding the bridge-piece, or the bar, as the
case may be, until filled around with gold. I have never been able
to do this with any degree of satisfaction, or with results of which I
felt proud. By the following method, however, I have found the ob-
stacles removed, and success attainable with a sufficient degree of
Where a is to be retained in exten-
certainty. bridge-piece place by
sions into cavities cut in teeth, held by gold filling, the dam being on,
with and allow the cement to harden
first set the piece oxyphosphate,
thoroughly. Then remove all of the phosphate from one cavity and
it with the meanwhile held in the de-
replace gold, piece being firmly
sired position by reason of its connection with the other tooth. One