Page 128 - My FlipBook

;

124 INSTRUMENTS FOR FILLING.

however, to have them made of the proper form at
first.
The teeth, while being filed, should be supported
by the fingers, or by an instrument for the purpose
or a cork or piece of soft wood may be inserted

between the tooth being filed and the teeth of the
opposing jaw, and the pressure thus used as a sup-
port. The tooth being sustained in this manner,
there is less jarring experienced by the patient, and
less liability to produce irritation of the periosteum.
When riling the anterior teeth, it is generally better
to hold the file in the fingers. For filing the incisors
and canines, a thin, bevel-edged file is to be pre-
ferred. In dressing a tooth with a file, the last that

is used should be a fine one ; after the application of
which, the surface operated upon should be made as
smooth as possible with a stone and burnisher, or
with a buff charged with rotten-stone.
In separating teeth with the file, where but one is
decayed, care should be taken not to cut the sound
one. For this purpose, it will usually be necessary
to have a safe sided file—one side smooth to present
to the sound tooth ; and even then the cutting edge
should be somewhat beveled from the safe side, that
the sharp angle of that edge may not rasp the sound
tooth ; in no case of this kind should a square-edged
file be used. In cases in which it is necessary to