Specification of William Massey : artificial teeth and gums.

  • Massey, William
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of William Massey : artificial teeth and gums. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Massey's Improvements in Artificial Teeth and Chims. Heretofore in the manufacture of artificial teeth and gums from mineral substances it has been usual to apply the coloring matter for the parts repre¬ senting the gums only to the outer surface thereof, whilst the base or all except just the surface of the material remains white or of a light color, and when, as 5 is frequently the case in adapting the gums to the mouth, any portion becomes chipped or ground off, or is otherwise worn off, the color on the surface of that part (and applied in imitation of a natural gum) is lost, and the defect is thereby made more perceptible; and my improvements consist, first, in the application of coloring or staining matter throughout the entire mass or sub- 10 stance of which such artificial gums are composed, or of so much of the whole substance or mass as may be desirable, in order to provide against any variation of colour being observable, in the event of chipping or grinding taking place. The mineral matters employed by different manufacturers of mineral teeth vary. I however lay no claim to any of such matters separately, but having 15 obtained such matters either in the powdered or in a plastic state, I mix there¬ with any suitable coloring matter that will incorporate itself therewith, and give the desired color thereto as near as possible to imitate the natural gum. The coloring matter which I have found to answer well consists of gold leaf or gold filings combined with felspar, in the proportion of eighty grains of gold 20 leaf or gold filings to one oz. of calcined felspar, ground or otherwise, intimately mixed together. Of the coloring matters thus obtained, I usually employ about four pennyweights to one pound of mineral composition (such as is usually employed by manufacturers of artificial mineral teeth); but I ’do not confine myself to these proportions, as they may be varied according to the degree of 25 colour required. The coloring matter in all cases should be ground or other^vise intimately mixed with the mineral composition. I usually proceed, first, to mould material of a tooth color to the form of the proposed teeth (one or more), I then add thereto mineral material colored, as explained, giving to it the desired form of the intended gums or portion of gums, and I then fire or burn 30 the same, as at present practised, when manufacturing teeth and gums from mineral matters. Mineral matters thus colored to the desired gum color may be moulded into the desired gums and finished independently of the teeth, or the teeth may be moulded and applied to the gums whilst such materials are in the plastic or powdered state and before firing, or the parts may be united 35 by the fusion of vitreous matter or glaze between the teeth and gums. When the artificial gums and teeth are produced separately, according to the second part of my Invention, I form the artificial gum with recesses or undulations, suitable to receive the base of the teeth, and I hold the teeth in position on the gums by wire passed through holes formed for the purpose through the artificial
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