A system of dental surgery / by the late Sir John Tomes.

  • John Tomes
Date:
1897
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A system of dental surgery / by the late Sir John Tomes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    shallow drawer, the front of which has been removed, and so proportioned as regards the upper and lower surfaces of the plate in which it is cut, that the section of wood will not fill out into the mouth. The wood should be fitted to the cavity, and left a little thicker at that end which lies towards the gum. If the plate be nicely fitted to the teeth which it caps, it will ordinarily hold in very tightly by springing it over their crowns; and in order that it may do so, Mr. Woodhouse is in the habit of cutting grooves into the plaster model at the necks of the temporary teeth, and then vulcanising upon the model. These grooves should correspond to the edges of the gums upon the lingual and labial aspects of the temporary molars, but they should not extend in between the teeth, as they would cause great soreness were they to result in the vulcanite pressing on the tongue of gum in this position. But on the labial and lingual aspects of the crown ridges upon the vulcanite, which pass just beneath the abrupt bulge of the enamel upon the temporary tooth, do not cause pain. How- ever, if a good and suitable model have been obtained, this trimming of it is not necessary, and Dr. Coffip advocates strongly the use of gutta-percha for taking all impressions for regulating purposes. Gutta-percha, owing to its low specific heat, can be employed very hot, and therefore very soft; he recommends that it be thoroughly softened in very hot water, placed in the tray, and the tray and its contents dipped into cold water and held there a few moments. No great excess should be used, and the tray having been firmly pressed up, best by the patient biting it home, it is to be after a little time abruptly removed and at once placed in cold water. If by accident there be any considerable excess hanging over the back of the tray, this should be carefully supported till it has cooled, lest by its weight it drag the back part of the impi-ession. But if, owing to the unfortunate slope of the teeth, or their absence, or other cause, the plate will not stay in securely, it can be tied in, and there is a particular way of doing this, so much preferable to any other with which I am acquainted, that it is worth description here. The plate having been adjusted to the mouth, holes must be drilled through it for the admission of ligatures, which may be passed round and k 2
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