American Dental Convention. [Volume: 2, Issue: 2, September, 1860, pp. 100-121]

108

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

inserting temporary sets; reduces the arch on the plaster casts, thus
making a plate really smaller than the arch; this cannot be retained by
atmospheric pressure, but is secured by means of clasps or springs upon
the under teeth; after a time the plate will fit perfectly, and has known
such cases to remain unchanged after ten years' wear; he thought the
result better than building upon a foundation that would be constantly
changing.
Adjourned to meet at nine o'clock on Wednesday morning.
SECOND DAY-MORNING SESSION.
The minutes of previous meeting were read and adopted.
The subject of Artificial Dentures was continued.
Dr. John Allen remarked that he always removed the teeth before
taking an impression; usually inserts a temporary set immediately after the teeth have been extracted, and never waits longer than one or
two weeks; if there are any projections of the arch, lances the gum at
that point, and with another instrument breaks away the projections of
bone; thought absorption would progress the same under the plate as
when no teeth were inserted, and that this change would continue from
nine to six months. Ile does not allow the plate to extend over the
anterior portion of the alveolar process. The advantages of immediate
insertion are that the regular form of the mouth is preserved, and no
change will take place in the muscular tissue. If a long time is allowed
to elapse between the insertion and extraction of the teeth, there will be
an alteration in the position of the condyles and the angles of the jaw;
besides a change in the natural expression of the face, which it is always
important to retain. Another reason for immediate insertion is, that the
patient will acquire the use of artificial teeth with facility, and that the
surrounding parts, viz., the cheeks, tongue, and secretions of the mouth,
will assist in the different movements.
Dr. Whitney extracts the teeth with great care, and inserts temporary sets immediately, the same day if possible, never waiting longer
than two days. The projecting points he carefully removes. A temporary set will often last, when thus inserted, for years; considers we
deceive our patients when we tell them we can insert a permanent
set; by this they understand they will obtain a denture that will last for
years, and possibly for life. It is well known that the process of absorption continues through life, and therefore we can never claim to insert a
permanent set; related a case where a gentleman had been obliged to
procure a set every year or two, the absorption continuing until the
alveolar process is almost entirely absorbed; he would have us forget the
word permanent in the insertion of artificial dentures.
Dr. Coville spoke of the offensive smell of the vulcanite base when
placed in the mouth; also objected to the presence of sulphur in the