Page 185 - My FlipBook

TEMPORAR Y FILLINGS.. 1 7 r

will no of metal be
longer be doubtful whether the final filling may
inserted.
Temporary fillings, then, are those which cover dressings placed
within a cavity for medication ; or those inserted to tide over a few
days until more convenient to fill ; to force the gum away from cavity-
borders, or for similar strictly temporary purposes.
The man who in a with the
indifferently packs temporary filling,
"
idea that it is for a surfaces rough and edges
only day," leaving
overlapped, is a sloven. Moreover, he is careless of the comfort and
interests of his Nowhere is the axiom truer that if a
patient. thing
is worth doing it is worth doing well.
The most are those which cover arsen-
important temporary fillings
ical dressings. Arsenic which is not thoroughly sealed within a cav-
ity may cause serious damage, the more so as it must be allowed to
run its course, which may involve the entire bony socket of the tooth,
so that the tooth itself is finally lost.* The first caution, therefore, is
to observe that where a cavity presents partly filled by hypertrophied
arsenic should not be at the first unless
gum-tissue, applied sitting,
reason should make it essential, and no need of such haste
special
would excuse the procedure unless the hemorrhage consequent upon
the removal of the hypertrophied tissue could be absolutely con-
trolled. Ordinarily a sharp lancet should be used for removing this
excessive growth, and a saturated solution of nitrate of silver very
to the remainder. A some medica-
carefully applied dressing carrying
ment which will act soothingly upon the aching pulp should then be
and this covered with a as well
applied, temporary filling. I may say
at once that sandarac varnish on cotton is a filthy combination to place
in the mouth. In a few cases it will serve better than anything else,
but in the great majority of instances it can and should be dispensed
with. Its main advantage is when it is desirable to force resistant
gum-tissue away from a cavity-border, when usually it will serve the
purpose perhaps better than more cleanly fillings.
In the case above described I should use the temporary stopping
which is a combination of and
furnished at the depots, gutta-percha
wax. This is to be had of two colors, pink and white. For teeth
which will peremptorily need attention at the next sitting, use the
whilst when a is reached where the tooth may be allowed
pink, point
a few days' rest, use the white. In this way the dentist can tell at a
* Where serious results obtain from poisoning the gum with arsenic, the
treatment is to dress the part locally with tincture of iron ( Tinctura Ferri
Chloridi], and to administer internally the hydrated oxide of iron (Ferri Ox-
idum Hydratuni), or better still, the same preparation with magnesia (Ferri
Oxidum Hydratuni cum Magnesia}.