General Remarks on Filling Teeth. [Volume: 2, Issue: 7, February, 1861, pp. 368-371]

368

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

force in consolidating a foil filling without producing the slightest pressure upon the pulp. This, to some extent, must occur when the permanent filling is introduced and consolidated immediately upon the pliant
and compressible animal deposit lining the floor of the cavity. When
such pressure does occur, though in the smallest degree, I regard it as
almost certainly fatal to the integrity of the nerve, and especially is this
the case where a predisposition to inflammation exists from previous continued partial exposure of the pulp to the irritating agents usually present
in the mouth.
Having prepared the cavity in either of the ways mentioned, I proceed
to fill with gold, in doing which, in accordance with my usual mode, I
first introduce blocks or cylinders one-half or two-thirds as long as the
cavity is deep, forming my basement filling; the surface of this is then
well consolidated, and the plug finished in the ordinary manner by adding
small portions at a time, and consolidating with serrated instruments.
GENERAL REMARKS ON FILLING TEETH.
BY G. F. J. COLLUM, D.D.S.
IT would be well to see that the mouth is in a healthy condition before
commencing the operation of filling, or, at any rate, that the gum surrounding the teeth to be worked upon should be free from irritation, which
is generally caused by the presence of tartar, otherwise the blood that
would flow from the least touch of the instruments might seriously interfere with properly performing the operation.
The cavity can be opened by the use of the file, wedge, or chisel,
so that it can be readily reached in order to be properly cleansed
and shaped to permanently hold the filling. In doing this, the thin,
brittle edge of bone surrounding the cavity should be dressed down to
make the walls of sufficient thickness to support and protect the filling
when inserted. Many in the profession neglect this important point,
which accounts for so many teeth being lost, the filling proving worthless
by the breaking away of the edges of the cavity in mastication or otherwise, and allowing the filling to become loose and decay to progress by
the secretions working in between it and the walls of the cavity.
In separating, it is better in most cases to leave a shoulder near the
neck of the teeth sufficient to prevent the lateral surfaces from again
coming in contact, thereby preventing the retention of food, and allowing
the surfaces of the filling to be readily cleaned.
Wherever it is practicable a V-shaped opening is to be preferred, as it
is better suited for developing the cavity, and its peculiar shape preventing the lodgment of food. There are many prejudiced against opening
the cavity by filing, but if properly done, and care taken to polish the