Page 72 - My FlipBook

METHODS OF FILLING TEETH.
58
seeming success, I have not done so for a length of time sufficient to
make me ready to indorse it.
When with amalgam, we often have an excess of the material
filling
which we throw away as useless. If, instead of this, these surplus
pieces are preserved, they may be used thus where a large filling is to
:
be placed, with the usual danger of fracture, during mastication, before
perfect crystallization has occurred, this may be prevented by using the
bits of amalgam left over from previous mixings. These of course
have Take one in the carriers, and hold it in the alcohol
crystallized.
flame until softened by heat. Quickly place it upon the filling, and
with a hot burnisher force it into the mass, which will immediately
become hardened. With a little practice this may be done very satis-
factorily. Whether it will prove durable or not, I am not prepared to
state absolutely. It is to be remembered that it is superficial shrinkage
which we are desirous of preventing, and may this not accomplish it,
since we use for the siirface a bit of amalgam which has already crys-
tallized ozit of the -mouth ? Besides, this is very similar to the advocated
method of that the latter becomes
using copper amalgam, except
under the of heat, and retains this for
plastic application consistency
a considerable time, whereas the ordinary amalgam returns to a
crys-
tallized form almost immediately, so that rapidity of manipulation as
well as skill is
requisite.
Before passing from this subject of the rapid hardening of amalgams,
I must note a fact which I have never seen published. Often, after
a time becomes for the
mixing large mass, a longer requisite packing
into the than had been Thus a
filling cavity anticipated. portion of
the material, not to set, so that it is difficult to
yet used, begins manip-
ulate. I have resorted to a heated burnisher to restore its
plasticity,
with the invariable result that while I have succeeded in incorporat-
ing the amalgam with the filling, the surface has been immediately
hardened. Thus I think it safe to assert that heat, while packing
amalgams, hastens their setting.
I now approach the important subject of where to use amalgams.
I am not a believer in the material to such an extent that I would
advocate the too common practice of deciding that any cavity which
is in an inconspicuous location may be as well filled with amalgam as
with gold. Too many patients have been so educated by contact
with dentists, that they will say, "It will not be seen, doctor;
therefore fill it with amalgam." This is an error, though the converse
"
istrue, i.e., \lwill beseen ; therefore do not fill it with amalgam,"
though even to this last rule there must be an occasional exception, as
far back as the bicuspid region. I think it would be a wise rule which
would rigidly exclude amalgam from incisors and cuspids, while the
bicuspids should be included as often as possible.