Connecticut western news., 1886-09-22
DENTISTRY.
Facts Not Generally Known
 About the Profession.
How the Work IS Done and the Prices
 that ara Received by Some Dentists.

It has been carefully estimated that an individual in the higher walk of life, when he or she reaches the age of seven ty, will have paid no less than $200 for the preservation of their natural teeth, and the requirement. of artificial ones. This fact should encourage young men in the study of dentistry. One after noon last week, met friend, dentist, who, being in confidential mood, con-. sented to talk of the profession of which he is shining ornament. He said:
 Dentistry is not what it is cracked up to be. and, although it pays big profits, many bills for work done are not collectable. For this reason honest men and women are compelled to suffer for the transgression of dead beats.' I have friend who recently sold set of teeth for $95 which cost him exactly SIG By set of teeth I mean upper and lower sets. The teeth mentioned above were set on aluminium. Teeth set on rubber cost the patient $50 and the dentist $1O. The prices given are average ones. Some dentists who serve the best people, ask even higher rates. All dentists claim to do their mechanical york on their premi ses. This is not so. Less than one-half of the dentists in Brooklyn do their own work or employ mechanical men by the week. A larger part of the work claimed to be done by local dentists is performed by half dozen mechanical dentists who make speciality of that branch of the ! business"
 ''What are mechanical dentists paid for their services?" I asked.
 Flight dollars per set, which includes upper and lower. The dentist so con- tracting for the worK is obliged to fur nish the teeth, which usually cost from $4 to $6 per set. Plain teeth are worth ten cents and gum teeth fifteen cents 1 each. The best teeth are made in Phila- delphia and are sold at branch of the manufacturing firm in this city. Den lists try to convince their patients that teeth are very expensive, and that to make an upper and lower set takes two | or three days. This is all humbug. A | mechanical dentist who is good work man can make three sets in twenty-four l hours. You can see by the foregoing figures that patients pay good round | prices for mans name or reputation. Dentists who employ mechanical men make plaster paris cast of their pa tient's jaw so as to get the articulation, or fitting of the teeth, correct. These casts cost about five cents each, and when made are sent to the dental labora- atories where the remainder of the work is done. Until the middle of Septem- Der dentists might as we'll close their off, ces and go in the country, as little or no work is being dcne. The months of August and September are the dullest in the year for the dental profession"
 ''What are the incomes of Brooklyn dentists?"
 I sion. Some dentists whom I might name make as high as $12, 900 and $15, 900 a year, while others hardly earn their salt. know men who have been in the pro- fession ten years or more, and who dur ing that time have not averaged 5000 year. Meny Brooklyn dentists fill nc teeth less than $5 each. A man in Phila- delphia charges $10 per hour and usually manages to get an hours work on any tooth no matter how small the cavity. Another dentist in New York will fill nc tooth less than $50 or $1oo. Dentists charge all prices for gold and silver fill ings. As have already stated, the av. craze price paid for an upper and lower set of teeth is $50 If I was unknown to dentist who usually receives that price, I will wager you, that at this tine of the year, could get the work done for hal1 that amount. Yes, think $20 or ever $15 would do the trick. Suavity of manner is the great drawing card of many dentists Ladies prefer to patronize pleasant and agreeable dentists to men who are surly are personally popular have the largest incomes. Women dentists2 -Oa, yes To my knowledge there is one in Brook lyn. This lady attends almost cxclu sively to women and children. Occa sionally she has male patient but no often."
 "Do women make success of dentis try?"
 "Not always. The feminine mlnd Ii sometimes unable to grasp its intr;cacics Many women dentists practice their pro fession in New York. They are usuall, discouraged in their attempts to stud, dentistry, as close association with male students has often unpleasant results The only plan which think would worl satisfactorily would be to separate tn sexes in dental colleges. This plan ha shown good results in medical schools More women dentists practice their pro fession in Europe than in America ''How are twelve dollar set teeth made while you wait, manfactured?"
 ''In almost the same manner that $5( sets are made. A mechanical dentis
 would charge the same price ($0 fo
 making $12 set of teeth as he would r for a higher priced set. Dentists, how
 ever, who make teeth at the rate named always do their own work. In chea]
 unner and lower sets of teeth tha teet]