Page 19 - My FlipBook

the observation of these amalgams now since 1894-95, so
that I have had this time in which to observe results and see
how fillings done with amalgams that will not shrink or ex*
pand will stand, and in none of those that I have been able
to observe thus far have I seen discoloration of the tooth, or
opening of the margins they remain good and perfect. When
;
I say discoloration I mean discoloration of the tooth or walls
of the cavity. Of course, the amalgam becomes dark, it be-
comes dark right up to the margins of the enamel, but the
enamel and dentin remain just as bright as they remain with
gold finings, and this will be the case so long as the filling
does not leak. If your margins are imperfect, if you have not
brought your amalgam perfectly to the walls of the cavity so
that there is leakage, you will get discoloration.

Examination of the flouth.

It is common with young dentists to make failures in the
examination of the mouths of patients, i. e., to overlook cavi-
ties, to overlook points of disease, and find afterward that
the patient has been done an injustice. I may say, also, that
it is not very uncommon for the old practitioners to do this
thing. It would seem to be a simple matter to look over a
mouth and determine whether or not there were cavities in
the teeth or whether there were local points of disease that
required attention, yet I wish to assure you that it is not a
very simple matter. It is not a matter that can be done
hastily, or without careful thought, and be done well. I have
in the last years of my practice been guilty of mistakes in
that myself—thought I had discovered all cavities that existed
in the mouth of a patient, and found after a few weeks that
I had overlooked important decays. I have not only done
this myself, but I have noticed it in others, so that I know
it is not an easy matter ; it is a matter that you are not likely
to become very efficient in unless you give it close, careful
thought. Furthermore, it is too common for dentists to
begin operations for patients when the patient is in no con-
dition for an operation. This point requires much care.
When a patient comes to you for an operation, if a
stranger or an acquaintance, for a first time, the supposition
is that that patient has the intention of putting himself
under your care. You will have patients come to you for