Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-09-10
FAnsK rrrr,H.
How They are Made and Whence
Come she Materials.

HOW TheY are Made and Whence
Come the Materials.
Philadelpnia Sunday News
II has not been SO many years since
false teeth were comparatively unknown.
In the earlier days Of the fathers of the
generation now in its prime the family
doctor was the arbiter OF the destinies Of
aching teeth. The picture of the gray
haired, .silver.bow specialized disciple Of
Galen hourishing over the shrieking boy,
crouching in terror of that instrument
of torture, the forcops, is yet vivid
reality to many who have not yet caught
in the glass the reflection of gray hairs.
Then the heroic remedy forthe toothache
was always used and the painless void
remained untitled. As in so many other
things art has developed into imitation Of
nature TO help fill this void. The uninitia-
ted would be surprised to know the extent
TO which the manufacture of artificial
teeth is now carried on. There are four,
il not more factories for the manufacture
of false teeth for dentists use in the CITY
OF Philadelphia and one in Camden.
The PRINCIPAL sources of supply of the
minerals which enter into their compost
ton are Wilmington, Del, and Germany.
From the former is sent the feldspar and
the slick, and from the latter is imported
the dirty, chnlk-loolSing substance known
as German clay. These materials reach
the manufacturer in their native state.
The feldspar and the slick are first
ground separately to fine powders fine as
-four, to which in appearance they bear o
marked resemblance. The reduction of
the clay to fine powder is much more
easily accomplished, but it is devoid of
the white brilliancy of the other powders.
These three ingredients are mixed in
different proportions. These proportions
are the secret of the manufacturer.
The mixture having been completed, it is
kneaded with water to the consistency of
moist putty, and this forms the basis for
the teeth. Another preparation is neces-
sary for the production of the pink por-
ton of the tooth which forms the imita-
ton of the gum.
II must be understood that the tooth
and the gum are in one piece. This pink
tinge is given by the use of the oxide of
gold in the enamel, of which platinum
and titanium are the principal ingredi-
ents. The tinted enamel having also
been prepared the materials are ready for
the inolders. Each mold is for full set
OF 10 teeth. 1t is fat, not of the shape of
the jaw, for the set is broken up into
twos and threes TO meet the necessities of
manipulation by the dentist in fitting diff
ferent shaped mouths.
Where the root of each (were they
NATURALLY would fit in the mold are two tiny
holes, in which workman, deft with his
fingers and his pincers, inserts the end of
two small platinum pins with heads ut
each end. These heads are to prevent the
pins from slipping out of the tooth nj one
end and ut the other end out of the
mouth plate, to which they are expected
to hold the teeth.
The insertion of the pins completed,
the mold is passed to fellow workman,
who coats the indentations which receive
the putty" with the enamel. The mold
again passes into another workman's
hands, who gently presses into that part
of the mold corresponding to the tinted
gum the preparation of the oxide ofgold.
BY still another workman the feldspnr,
slick and clay mixture is pressed to com.
plete the tooth. The mold is then closed,
placed under enormous pressure, the
excess of clay squeezed out, n clamp put
on, and mold aud clamp placed in the
drying oven.
~hhNh oNtll hutll HI
the moisture is removed the niulds nre
opened and the teeth, with gum attached.
allowed to drop out They show no dis.
tlnguishing characteristic separate from
that of the dirty chalk appearance of the
single ingredient Of the clay. The tooth
and the gum appear to be homogeneous.
They then pass into the hands Of the
fnishers, generally women, who with fine
saws and files cut away the rough edges
and make more distinct the separation of
the teeth. When these skilled fingers
are through with them IL sets of IL teeth
are arranged upon II slide OF fire clav.
reinforced bycoarsely ground silex, which
VIII not melt in the interse heat of the
oven when uncombined with other sub
stances. From this workroom the
slides are passed TO the baking
ovens, which hnve been raised to white
heat. In these ovens one slide is baked
ut time, the time of remaining therein
varying from Is to 25 minutes, dependent
upon the temperature of the oven. When
the slides are removed from tile oven
they are placed in other friedrich I'M
heated ovens, where they are allowed 10
cool gradually. On cooling, the bril-
liancy of the white enamel and the deli
cate pink to which the heat has changed
the oxide of gold gladden. the bakers
heart.
The cooling process complete, the
slides and the teeth are handled once
more before the latter ARE shipped away.
Thin, pastboard boxes, 6 inches square.
and narrow strips of wax are provided.
The teeth are pressed on the wax, the
projecting heads of the pins holding them
IN place. The strips are arranged in the
boxes, the lids fastened on and the teeth
are ready for shipment.