Page 234 - My FlipBook

230 CLASSIFICATION OF DECAYED CAVITIES.

precaution. The gold should extend somewhat be-
yond the circumference of the tooth all around, in
order to a thorough adaptation and finish.
The foundation thus prepared, and kept free from
moisture, the crown is easily built up by the ordinary
method of packing the gold. Any desired shape can
be given to this artificial crown ; but, of course, that

which most nearly resembles the form of the natural
crown, is in all cases to be desired. The masti-
cating surface of this gold crown is to be formed from
the indications given by the antagonizing teeth.
Such crowns will wear for years, and perform all the
functions of the natural organs. Artificial crowns of
this kind have been attached to the tooth, by screw-

ing into the pits small pieces of gold wire at different
angles, and then building up round and between

them with the gold foil, on the principle already
described, thus making these wires serve as so many
anchors for fastening the work. This, however, is a
less efficient method than the one first described,
since there is no cohesive attachment of the foil to
these gold anchors, and it is retained in place only
by the mechanical arrangement of the wires ; but by
barbing or roughening them, or giving them abrupt
curves, they may be made to retain the crown well,
if it is thoroughly consolidated and united. But the
method of anchoring with foil, as before observed, is