Page 319 - My FlipBook

ATTACHMENT OF THE CROWN. 315

wire, continuing till the rods are of proper size, and

all the pores of the wood are closed by compression.
They should be slightly oiled before being drawn
through the plate. They may be drawn so as just
to fit the holes of the artificial crowns, being, of
course, of different sizes. Pivots thus compressed are
stiffer, stronger, and far more durable ; and, there
being greater density of fiber, there is less absorp-
tion of moisture, less expansion, and less liability to

decay, than in wood in the natural condition.
In arranging the crown in position, care is necess-
ary to prevent it from being struck by the teeth of
the opposing jaw,—especially since it often happens,
where the natural crown has been absent for some time,
that the corresponding tooth of the lower jaw becomes
somewhat elongated, and strikes forcibly against a
properly adjusted pivot tooth. Such a difficulty is

met either by filing off the elongated tooth, or by
grinding out the palatal portion of the artificial

crown sufficiently to accommodate the elongation.
The former is the better method, and should always
be adopted when inflammation of the dentine, exposure
of the pulp, or an irascible condition of the surrounding
parts, do not forbid it : though, in many instances
both methods may be advantageously employed.
But, by whatever means, the antagonizing tooth
should always be prevented from coming in contact