Page 288 - My FlipBook

284 FILLING ROOTS.

case, of various sizes, lengths, and densities ; the
longest, largest, and least dense should be first used,
the last requiring to be of less size and greater density.
These cones may be made as dense as desirable by
rolling them firmly between the thumb and fingers,
after having taken them off the broach. They are
then introduced with the plugging pliers, and passed
up as near to the point of the root as is consistent with
safety. In some instances, there is danger of thrust-
ing them through the point ; and, in order to prevent

this, the end of the first block introduced may be
made so large that it will not pass through, even

or, what is probably better, a very
when forced up ;
small round pellet of gold may be forced up the canal,
as near to the point of the root as admissible, and
this serves as a foundation for the subsequent portions
of gold, and prevents them from passing too far up.
The cone-shaped blocks may be introduced and con-
solidated with an instrument of the same general form
as the canal, but much smaller. This kind of instru-
ment should be made of untempered steel; though

some operators make them of whalebone, to prevent
breaking off in the canal,—an unnecessary precaution,
since no skillful operator would ever break off a low-
tempered, well-polished, properly-formed instrument
of this kind. After a block is placed in the cavity,
the instrument is thrust in by its side, thus consoli-