Proceedings of the American Dental Convention. [Volume: 5, Issue: 2, September, 1863, pp. 93-112]

100

THE DENTAL COSMOS.

the outside and one upon the inside, and connect the two with a rubber
ligature passing between the teeth; this apparatus he has found effective
in such cases.
Dr. Sylvester described a case in which the upper cuspidatus closed
inside of the lower arch. This he corrected by means of a rubber plate
fitting the lower jaw, and provided with an inclined plane; in front of the
lower cuspidatus was an opening with two bands, which, from time to
time, were oiled and bent inward, thus exerting a pressure upon that tooth
to carry it under.
Dr. Butler advocated rubber for moving teeth, and believed it powerless for harm in educated and scientific hands; the continual pressure
objected to he regarded as advantageous in expediting the operation,
while* the soreness referred to was seldom experienced after the first
application.
Dr. E. A. L. Roberts uses rubber for the regulation of teeth, and retains them in position by ligatures of thread.
Dr. Bonville exhibited an ingenious and somewhat complicated apparatus adapted to a model of the case which it was designed to correct.
Dr. Buckingham thought that we should endeavor to avoid a hasty
condemnation of any apparatus; all no doubt possessed some valuable
points and might in turn prove serviceable. He expands the jaw by the
accurate adjustment of springy plates.
Dr. W. B. Roberts described a case in which all the upper teeth between the bicuspids were in and out alternately; he corrected it by ligatures fastened to a plate which was swaged to fit the entire mouth, with
a semicircular opening for the teeth to project through, thus leaving a
bar upon the front of the arch.
The President, Dr. Taft, having sufficiently recovered from his indisposition to participate in the proceedings, entered the hall, when he was
greeted with an earnest and hearty welcome, and Drs. Watt and Hawes
were appointed a committee to conduct him to the chair.
Upon taking his seat, he remarked that he had learned with surprise of
his appointment; he thanked the Convention for this mark of kindness,
and promised to be present and discharge his duties so far as his health
would permit.
Dr. Buckingham explained a simple buffer, formed from a piece of
metal cut in the form of the letter H; the perpendicular pieces are bent
so as to clasp a molar inside and out, with the horizontal bar passing over
the grinding surface.
Dr. Searle related a case of undue prominence of the upper teeth,
which occurred in the practice of Dr. Brewster. The patient, a Russian
nobleman, was excessively sensitive with regard to the deformity, and exceedingly anxious to have it corrected; after visiting, however, several
dentists and physicians of repute, and meeting with no encouragement,