The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1885-10-14
THE TALK OF A DENTIST.
How All Work on the Teeth
Has Been Perfected.
Nearly a Ton of Gold Annually Buried
with Dead People.

So" SoSS uiAdCl SuO
ground nearly every year." said a
prominent Philadelphia dentist, "bur-
led in the teeth and plates of people
who have at time or another been
in the dental chair. The repair and
REIMBURSEMENT of the teeth has got to
be a profession Of the highest Skill and
proficiency. High standing in the
profession is repaid with richest re-
wards. The establishment of the uni
versity department of dentistry has
given a great impetus to the study.
Scores of able and expert young men
matriculate annually. They come
from all parts of the world-South
America. Cuba. Mexico. the continent,
II Japan. This city is for emost in
dental operations and dental surgery.
Some of the work turned out here is.
wonderfully perfect. Many men and
women prefer false teeth to the natu-
raj ones, if the latter are the least bit
defective. and few people have a per-
feet set Of teeth.
"lnstrumenCs?" Why, yes, the in
s~trumentation of a first class dentist is
comprised in several large cases, like,
that" pointing to a series Of handsome
rosewood cases, and pulling out draw
er after drawer. filled with delicate
steel probes, chisels. borers. and for
cops. The manufacture of these is a
great trade in itself. There is the den
tai engine, n of the.greatest inven-
tons in the profession, indispensable
now, with it's flexible screw. The cleo
trio mallet, another modern invention
unknown to the old-fashioned tooth
carpenters, is used by nearly all den-
lists and requiring a battery to run it.
The rubber dam or appliance placed
over the tooth and mouth Of a patient
to prevent moisture and saliva reach
ing he part operated on is the great
est Of the modern discoveries. Any
one who has been in the dentists chair
under the old plan, which necessitat-
ted packing the mouth Of the patient
"ACl lltphll1S, LIZ otl1CC ulluCI Luc luU-
ber dam, can see what infinite torture
this scientific adaptation has relieved
him from.
Twenty thousand dollars a year.
Yes, there are dental surgeons in this
city who make hat much by their pro-
fession. A clientage very often in
cludes a whole family and the care of
the teeth of each from infancy until
adolescence and beyond. American
dentists have the highest repute
abroad-Dr Evans, for instance,
whose patients in Paris and elsewhere
were expresses, kings, queens, and
princes of the blood.
Gold is the Rest material yet found
for filling teeth. Silver and compost
ton of various kinds, being cheaper,
are used. but the royal metal is the
only n which ought to be used.r The
manufacture of gold foil or leaf for
our business is immense, and hundred
of thousands Of dollars worth are con-
sumed every year.
"The teeth should be looked to often
by a good dentist. Individual care
! early in life saves much dental work
and expense. 1t used to be the idea.
that the deciduous teeth, as they were
temporary affairs, needed nc attention.
They should be treated with greater
attention than the second set. They
are not filled now a. much as formerly,
but extracted when carries attacks
them. The biblical expression, skin
of the teeth is true. There is a deli
cate enamel, resembling epidermis in
its microscopic delicacy, and cover the
teeth with a beautiful mosaic, which
is susceptible of a perfect polish, which
you may see glistening on the teeth of
some young people and Africans. Ac-
ids 20 for this and once broken in up
on carries ensues. Good and Dad teeth
are hereditary. but early care and pro-,
fessional skill will do much with ever
a bad natural set of teeth. A Phila-
delphia father l know-client Of mine
has in each Of his children's rooms
over the lavatory the following motto:
Say your prayers; wash your face;
comb your hair; brush your teeth 1t
is a good one."-Philadezphia Times.
~.