Page 174 - My FlipBook

170 FILLING TEETH.

be upon it ; when it is cut into little blocks or pellets
of various sizes ; these to be regulated by the size of
the roll and the amount cut off. For the introduction
of the gold thus prepared, about three sizes of instru-
ments are required, those having fine serrated points
being preferable. As to the sizes of these points,
Dr. Blakesley remarks, "they should just enter,
respectively, Nos. 22, 24, and 26 of the wire-gauge."
A larger than either of these, however, is desirable

for many cases. As before, the filling may be com-
menced at the bottom of a cavity or at one side, if
desirable, with a pellet sufficiently large to be set
firmly into the retaining points. Then take up the
small pellets or blocks upon the point of the plugging
instrument, and place them exactly in the desired
position, and consolidate them thoroughly, building
up next to the Avail all around higher than the center
with the smaller pieces, filling up the little corners

and interstices ; for which manipulation the smaller
points will be required. The gold is then packed in
till the cavity is full, when it is finished as usual.
Another method is to tear off fragments from the
sheet, and roll these up into round pellets, and fill
with these, with the same instruments and upon the
same principle as above described. But by this
method it is difficult to make a perfect filling; the gold
is liable to clog in the cavity, and fail in adaptation.