Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-09-30
For the Spy.
Artificial Teeth.


MEssRs. EDITORS. II new and valuable
improvement in constructing artificial teeth,
having been recently announced through the
public journals, individuals interested in the
subject, are beginning to make inquiries in
regard to it. In order to be able to meet those
inquiries, when referred to, l have been at
some little trouble to examine the matter, and
see how far the new invention, may be con-
sidered an advance upon other methods now
in use. Admitting all the inventor claims for
his invention, as to facility, and ease Of con-
structon, adaptation cheapness, and so on, to
be true, the question arises as to the durability
of sets of teeth made alter his plan, and,
whether or not, they can be repaired, if the
owner chance to break them. This is an i'm
portant consideration with every one obliged
to resort to dental substitutes, as, in cleansing
a set of teeth, its removal from, and replace
ment in the mouth, it is liable to accident like
other APPENDICES. On this point, [ made
careful inquiry of one who had attempted to
make a set after the patentee's modei and al
most the first question put to him was, 'can
the work be repaired if broken in the process of
manufacturing, or the patient break it after it
is finished II" 10 this inquiry, he gave de-
cided answer, " No." He also informed me,
that the inventor himself does not claim that
and says, in substance, the matchmaker does
not warrant that your watch shall not break
if you let it fall, or, in any manner treat it
carelessly. True: but watches, and other
costly appendages, frequently admit Of repair,
but this, nerer. The dentist with whom had
| the conversation, being practical tooth max
err and very fine artist is one, from his
knowledge of the art, capable of Judging Of
the practicability of the new method, and IS
of opinion, from the consideration above
named that it is a useless invention. And
this is the opinion of all the dentists, in sew
eral of our large cities, with whom have con.
yersed on the subject, whose opinions are OF
any value. Teeth Makers have perfect
knowledge of the difficulties attendant upon
making block teeth, and the expense, and still
greater risk in repairing single block, OF
cracking the remainder. They know, too, that
a block once broken, cannot be meDded, and
that a new block must be made, or its place
be supplied bysingle teeth; in either case there
is great danger Of cracking the remaining
blocks in the process Of souldering the new
one to the plate. Now, if, as has been stated
to me by several Of the best Block Teeth
Makers, in New York and Boston-those who
manufacture for others, as well as for their
own practice, that many of our best dentists
have given up setting block teeth altogether,
mainly on account of the trouble and expense
of repairing them, and that for this cause, the
demand for them has diminished one half,
within the last two as three years. can it be
possible that they will adopt practice still
more hazardous? There is a set of upper teeth
in the establishment of Jones, White & Co.,
of New York, made of one entire piece of
proclaim, by Dublin dentist more than
thirty years ago, so that the idea is not new
one, nor was the inventor able to render his
invention of any practical value. If the last
inventor succeeds, he will be more fortunate
than The first. If the manufacture of block
teeth be attended with vexations and uncer-
tainties, somewhat In proportion to the num-
Der contained in each block, what may reason
ably be expected, wnen it is made to consist
of an entire block of fourteen teeth, and
portion answering to the plate, in addition to
cover the 'roof," of the mouth. None but
eXderienee Teeth Makers can do anything with
the recent invention, and they are the ones,
so far as my knowledge extends, the most
afraid of it.
But it is said that it can be afforded much
cheaper than anything else now in use, there
being no expense for plate. This point viii
be made perfectly clear to both dentist and
patient after a few trials to obtain a fit, and
when the patient finds that the work cannot
be repaired, and that upon even slight dam
age, new set of teeth will be necessary.
Every encouragement should be freely offered
to every improvement that has even the plau-
sibility of success, and l think L speak the
sentiment of the professions generally, when
say that would gladly adopt the "new in
vention, if did not clearly see an impossi-
bility Of success. For one, l hope that some
of our young dentists will make trial of it,
and if they are successful, viii as publicly
acknowledge my error of judgment and give
it hearty approval. Of all the inventions
for constructing half and whole sets of teeth,
l know of none to equal that Of Dir. John
Allen, late Professor in the Cincinnati Col
lege of Dental Surgery. His method consists
of setting single teeth on platina plates COM
bining the grand requisite, Of strength, dura-
bility, and life like contour. Each tooth is
fastened to the plate separately, and then COW
cred with gum that unites the teeth together
| and the whole to the plate, which entirely
excludes the secretions of the mouth from be-
tween the plate and gum. 1t also admits of
ready repair either in the gum or teeth. A
single tooth may be supplied without the ne
cessty of a whole block. More than two
hundred sets made after DR.. Aliens method,
now in use in Worcester, and vicinity fully
sustain the truth of the above statement.
S. 2. MILLER.