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

110

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

its meaning; finds nothing better than continuous gum work for such sets.
He allows the plate to extend only to the necks of the teeth, and with the
body fills up any depressions. If teeth are not inserted immediately, a
lateral movement of the jaw will be induced, which will take much time
and patience to overcome; there will also be a change in the cheeks and
muscular tissue, and particularly in the natural expression of the face,
which is important, under all circumstances, to retain. The facility of
use and language is also readily obtained, a difficulty which can
rarely be overcome if no teeth have been present in the mouth for a
length of time. When the process is absorbed, he fills the spaces between
the temporary set and arch with continuous gum, subjecting them to this
addition of material from time to time as absorption progresses; his
objection to vulcanite in such cases was, that the material, in consequence
of its color, could not be placed in the anterior portion of the arch.
Dr. Atkihson remarked that he was requested to present to the notice
of the Convention an invention by Dr. C. Palmer. Upon carving a set
of teeth he separates the gums (after biscuiting) over the bicuspids and
molars, and by this means avoids the usual shrinkage.
Dr. Clark mentioned the case of a gentleman for whom several upper
sets had been made, one by himself, all being useless, as no adherence of
the plate could be obtained; on a second trial he broke the plate posterior
to the air chamber, and, without knowing it, introduced it in his mouth;
the adherence was perfect; upon an examination of the mouth, found the
muscles of the palatine arch were so strong as to throw the plate downward, when he attempted to exhaust the air; after mending the plate,
perforated it with three small holes a short distance back of the air
chamber, and the adhesion was perfect, as he exhausted the air through
these holes.
Dr. Colburn spoke of the advantages of continuous gum work; has no
trouble in repairing it, and meets with the greatest success in its use.
Dr. Merriman does not allow plates to extend very far back, and uses
very small air chambers.
Dr. Goldey spoke of soldering continuous gum work, and referred to
the method (suggested by Dr. Clark, of New Orleans,) by means of solder
composed of arsenic and platina; this mode had been discarded in consequence of its destroying the plate and staining the gum, pure gold
having been substituted. He uses this solder with success, in the following manner: Puts the teeth in a rim in the usual way, and protects
the plate and the gum by covering them with a very thin coating of silex;
uses a small quantity of solder, which he can cause to flow with the
ordinary heat of the blow-pipe, while gold requires the heat of the furnace.
Dr. Searle advocated the old plan of sets upon gold, with block or gum
teeth, and thought that constant changing was not of advantage, and
believed if the old method was now introduced as a new invention it