Page 63 - My FlipBook

G UTTA-PER CHA.
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to use the felt rather than to have too large a mass of oxyphosphate
underlying the gold, or to force the patient to submit to the ex-
haustive process of packing gold alone. It is claimed that this
material also makes a good filling for temporary teeth, but in my
judgment other things serve better.
Porcelain so called, are pieces of
fallings, tooth-porcelain specially
baked to fit a and then retained a cement.
given cavity, by Hence it
is obvious that the durability of such an operation depends upon the
cement, which cannot be counted permanent, though more nearly so
here than when used alone. The only excuse for using porcelain is
the hope of matching the tooth in color. This is only accomplished by
accident. The color of a mixture will the
given depend upon degree
of heat at which fusion occurs, and as this cannot be definitely
measured, it becomes impossible to bake porcelain specially and pro-
duce a desired shade. This alone is enough to make the method dis-
appointing, if not worthless. Porcelain inlays are different, in that
the is made from porcelain already baked, so that color and shade
filling
may be selected to match, if a sufficient variety be at hand. Up to
the time have been made for a small
present inlays successfully only
number of cavities. If a method should be devised by which the
porcelain may be accurately ground to fit an irregularly-shaped cavity,
there will be many cases where the inlay will be indicated : notably
upon the labial surfaces of superior incisors.
Vitreous, or glass fillings, are made from a kind of glass, ground to
a fine powder, which fuses readily over an alcohol flame. It is fur-
nished in an assortment of shades, which it is claimed are reliable
;
that is, that the powder from a given shade will always produce a
given color. If this should prove to be true, this method may be
useful Of all kinds of fillings, however, which depend
occasionally.
upon cement for retention within a cavity, I am inclined to believe
that results will be obtained, and the
only temporary practitioner
should be cautious in making promises to the patient in whose mouth
he what is as in an
attempts yet experimental stage.
Gutta-Percha. Xo dentist can afford to be without this most valu-
able material. Useful in many ways, it is perhaps most useful for
"
In the form known as
temporary purposes. temporary stopping"
it is immensely valuable. This is a combination mainly of gutta-percha
and wax. Of those obtainable at the depots I prefer Gilbert's, be-
cause it has just the right proportions of the two materials. Those
which have more wax are not as durable, and become too soft and
when warmed. The temporary stopping is furnished in two
sticky
that the white may be used in conspicuous posi-
colors, presumably
tions. There is a much better advantage to be taken of the two colors.
The should be used to cover arsenical dressings, or in such
pink only
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