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THE L-SES OF VARIOUS FILLING-MATERIALS.
47
tain sufficient space so that the gold may be made to extend over all
and
margins, bulge beyond the normal contour, so that when all is
trimmed away a perfect surface is produced at all parts, and of such
contoiir that the teeth returning to normal position will knuckle. This
is impossible with a matrix.
There is no to a matrix around a tooth when the
objection using
is next to a made the loss of a tooth
cavity space by (Fig. 62), for here
the filling may be polished, the slight loss of tooth-substance being of
no consequence. The greatest use for a matrix is where a large part
of a tooth must be contoured with for this is a material
amalgam,
which, because of its plasticity, would be most difficult to use without
the support which the matrix gives. Moreover, it is a material which
can be polished with very little loss of substance. Where it is possible,
the matrix should be allowed to remain in place twenty-four hours.
To sum up, a matrix is invaluable when amalgam is to be inserted,
and disadvantageous where gold is to be employed.

CHAPTER III.

THE USES OF VARIOUS FILLING-MATERIALS METHODS OF MANIPULATION
MATERIALS OF MINOR VALUE GUTTA-PERCHA OXYCHLORIDE OF
ZlNC OXYPHOSPHATE OF ZlNC AMALGAMS COPPER AMALGAM GOLD.

Ax endless variety of materials has been suggested for replacing
the portion of a tooth which has been lost by caries. But few have
proven of great value, and no one material has been found to satisfy
the demands of all cases. It is, however, no more necessary for the
dentist to rely upon one filling-material than it is for the physician to
use one drug with which to control all the diseases of mankind. We
can care for all conditions, provided we have at least one
intelligently
method which will be useful in each given condition.
There is but one material which is best adaptedfor the filling of a
at a time. Let us use that
given cavity specified specially indicated
material on every occasion, even if we should lose by the transaction.
Let us refuse to use amalgam where gold should be employed, and
equally let us fill with amalgam if best, even though the patient would
pay more for gold. Few would deny the wickedness of placing a
number of amalgam fillings in the incisor region, yet if gold can be
used to best advantage it is equally wrong to improperly fill bicuspids
and molars with some other material.
If one is to follow this rule of never filling except with that which