Page 193 - My FlipBook

FILLING BY CLASSES AND MODIFICATIONS. 189

to the anterior part of the mouth, and letting a fold
of it extend down from this, and out over the inferior
front teeth and the lip, so as to protect the tooth
from the breath, and catch any fragments of gold that
may drop from the instrument. The napkin and
paper thus arranged, are to be kept in their place by

the fingers of the left hand of the operator; and, if
the mouth of the duct is kept closed by the paper, a
complete exclusion of moisture is secured. In some
cases, pressure of the ringers on the napkin over the
duct is necessary; in others, the paper adheres to the
mucous membrane, and effectually prevents the egress
of saliva. The cavity should now be dried by the
method heretofore described, and it is ready for the

filling.
In operations on inferior teeth, more care is requisite
to protect them from moisture. Bibulous paper should
be packed in on the mouths of the sublingual and
submaxillary ducts, and a roll of paper placed between
the cheeks and the teeth. A larger roll of napkin,
too, than that used for the upper teeth, should be
disposed in the same manner as above suggested, and
held in place by the patient with a speculum (Fig.
47), or by the fingers of the operator.
Cases are frequently presented in which the flow

of saliva is so abundant, and of such a peculiar char-
acter, as to render it difficult to protect the teeth from