Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1886-10-07
SECRETS OF DENTISTRY.
Nearly Four Hundred Per Cent. Profit
Realized on a Set of False Teeth.

Realized on Set OF False Teeth.
1t has been carefully estimated that
an individual in the higher walk of
life, when he or she reaches the age of
seventy, will have paid no less than
$500 for the preservation of their nat
ural teeth and the requirement of arti-
fetal ones. This fact should encourage
young men in the study of dentistry.
One afternoon last week, met a
friend, a dentist, who, being in conf
Dental mood, consented to talk of the
profession of which he is a 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 suf-
fer for the transgression of dead beats.
have friend who recently sold a set
of teeth for $95 which cost him ex-
actly $500. BY set of teeth
mean upper and lower sets.
The teeth mentioned above were sci on
aluminium. Teeth set on rubber cost
the patient $50 and the dentist $40.
The prices given are average ones.
Some dentists who serve the best peo-
pie ask even higher rates. All dentists
claim to do their mechanical work on
their premises. This is not SO. Less
than one-half of the dentists in Brook
lyn do their own work or employ me-
chanical men by the week. A larger
part of the work claimed to lie done by
local dentists is performed by half a
dozen mechanical dentists who make a
specially of that branch of the bust
ness"
what are mechanical dentists paid
for their servicesP' asked.
Eight dollars per set, which in
cludes upper and lower. Tho dentist
SO contracting for the work is obliged
to furnish the teeth, which usually cost
from 81 to Sc per double set. Plain
teeth are worth ten cents and gum
teeth fifteen cents each. The
best teeth are made in Philadel-
phia Dentists 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 workman can make
three sets in twenty-four 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 a
plaster paris cast of their patients 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 laboratories
where the remainder of the work is
DONE
''Do women make success of dem
tistry?"
mot always. The feminine mind is
sometimes unable to grasp its intrica-
cies Many women dentists practice
their profession in New York They
are usually discouraged in their at
tempts to study dentistry, as close as
ISOLATION with male students has often
unpleasant results. The only plan
which / think would work satisfactorily
would be to separate the sexes in dem
tai colleges. This plan has shown
good results in medical schools More
women dentists practice their profess
sion in Europe than in America"
"How are $12 a set teeth. made
while you wait, manufacturers"
| .'In almost the same manner that
$50 sets are made. A mechanical dem
fist would charge the same price ($S)
for making $12 set of teeth as he
would for a higher priced set. Den
lists, however, who make teeth at the
rate named always do their own work.
In cheap upper and lower sets of teeth
the teeth cost 50, while in the higher
priced sets the teeth are worth but 81
more. In cheap sets the only addi-
tional expense is for rubber and plas-
ter. The latter is worth, possibly, five
cents and the rubber twenty-five The
materials used in dentistry cost but lit
tie. 1t is the work and skill for which
the patient is obliged to pay. You
will excuse me" said my informant,
looking at his watch, las l have an
engagement at my Office at this hour y
| A laboratory can be fitted up with all
the necessary tools for the practice Of
dentistry at cost of from $500 70 $500.
1-Broostyn Eagle. HnF i1