Editorial. Memoir of Prof. Chapin A. Harris. [Volume: 2, Issue: 5, December, 1860, pp. 274-288]

284

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

extraction as may be carious or of no value. If, however, the examination should prove all the teeth, with the exception of two or three, to be
defective, I should recommend the extraction of all of them, being
governed, of course, by the position and particular teeth; for instance,.
were the sound ones either the superior or inferior cuspidati, would not
under all circumstances advise their removal.
"The gums, saliva, and particularly the soft parts covering the alveolar
and palatine processes, should be carefully examined, care being taken to
remember their general condition. If the gums be found in an inflammatory condition, induced by carious teeth, salivary calculi, or other local
irritants, it should be noted as requiring treatment. The saliva should
also be looked to, and, if abnormal, the operator should ascertain if due
to local or constitutional causes; if to the former, he should recommend
the proper treatment.
"On examining the soft parts, care should be taken that there exist no
fissures formed by folds of the mucous membrane on the palatine processes, that will destroy the adherence of the denture. Where such are
present, the parts should be separated with small instruments, that the
depth may be ascertained, so that alteration and allowance may be made in
the plaster model. The dental practitioner will also meet with cases in
which the slightest touch of the finger to the soft parts covering the palatine process will produce a constant tendency to emesis; with such patients
it is useless to attempt to obtain an impression, but would direct them to
return home, and that several times each day for one week, a silver spoon
should be placed in contact with the hard and soft palate; by such treatment the tendency to emesis is overcome. Having noted the condition of
the mouth and the teeth that require extraction, I should next proceed to
the preparation of the mouth.
" The extraction of the teeth should be accomplished in as short a time
and with as little violence as possible to the surrounding parts. If the
gums be inflamed, from causes above referred to, bleeding should be encouraged by repeated washing of the parts with warm water. The
sharp projections of the process should be removed by means of cutting
forceps, that the tongue may not be injured by contact, and loose patches
of gum may be cut away with scissors.
" The mouth being properly prepared, the next subject for consideration
is to obtain an impression; this may be taken immediately after the extraction of the teeth, or at a subsequent period. The former I prefer,
and usually wait only until bleeding has ceased before taking an impression. Having decided so to do, the next subject of thought should be of
the material best adapted, and what would furnish the best results. The
choice of material must be governed by circumstances, of which the operator alone can judge. Should the case be one requiring only the anterior teeth to be replaced and be retained in position by means of clasps,
it may be advisable to take the impression with wax alone; but in such
cases would usually prefer to take one first with wax, and, after trimming
it slightly, pour over it a small quantity of thin plaster, and again return
it to the mouth, and so obtain a good plaster impression.
"A perfect plaster impression for a partial set may be obtained by first
placing around the necks of the teeth a small portion of wax, which will
prevent the adherence of the plaster to the teeth; the wax will be removed
with the plaster impression; and, if the teeth have 'drawn,' the natural
shape can be restored upon the plaster model. If a wax impression is