Page 106 - My FlipBook

90 THE TREATMENT OF TEETH
separation has been secured, or unless both the lateral
walls are freely cut away, it is usually impossible to
perfect these margins (labial if working from the
back, and lingual if working from the front) after
the filling is made ; and as slight imperfections are
often observable, particularly if the teeth are only
sufficiently separated to admit of a polishing tape or
sandpaper disc, there is every advantage in securing
perfection at this part as the work proceeds, and the
thin flat burnisher is a convenient and efficient
means of securing this.
It has been pointed out that conspicuous gold
filling should be avoided as much as possible, and
the removal of part of a labial wall to facilitate the
operation has been deprecated, notwithstanding that
filling from the back frequently demands hand
pressure. The removal of part of a labial wall on a
distal surface does not, however, render the filling
nearly so conspicuous as if the same amount, or
even less, had been cut from a mesial surface. This
is a point worth considering in selecting the opening,
but it is better to get into the habit of filling all
these cavities from the back whenever it is possible
to do so, although it is more difficult and takes up
more time.
Small round or oblong cavities that are sur-
rounded by strong walls, can be filled as if they