Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-09-15
DENTISTRY.
Facts Not Generally Known
About the Profession.
How the Work is Done and the Prices
that are Received by Some Dentists,

that are Received by Some Dentists,
1t 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 5000 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, I met friend, dentist,
who, being in confidential mood, con
sentcd to talk of the profession of which
he is a shining ornament. He said:
"n2ntistry 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 have a
friend who recently sold a set of teeth for
$95 which cost him exactly 5000. BY
set of teeth mean upper and lower
sets. The teeth mentioned above were
set 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 people ask
even higher ratc'. All dentists claim to
do their mechanical work on their prcmi-
ses. This is not So Less than onc-hal(
of the dentists in Brooklyn do their own
work or employ mechanical men by the
week. A larger part of hcwork claimed
to be done by local dentists is p rformcd
by half doz.n mechanical dentists who
make a speciality Of that branch Of the
business"
"What are mechanical dentists paid
for their servicesl' | asked.
eight dollars per set, which includes
upper and lower The dentist so CON-
tracing for the WORK is obliged to fur
nish the teeth, which usually cost from
$4 to Sc per set. Pain teeth are worth
ten cents and gum .gcth fifteen cents
each. The best teeth are made in Phlla-
dclphia 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-iour
hours. You can see by the foregoing
figures that patients pay good round
prices for a mans name or reputation.
Dentists who employ mechanical men
make plaster paris cast of their pa
TENTS 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 well close their otli-
ces and go in the country, as little or no
work is being done. The months Of
August and September are the dullcst III
the year for the dental profession"
"What are the incomes of Brooklyn
dentists"
"Thcy diff +, as in any other profess
sion. Some dentists whom might name
make as high as $l9, 900 and $l5, 900 n
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 Sl0O) 4
year. Mrny Brooklyn dentists fill no
teeth less than S. each. A man in Phila-
delphia charges $40 per hour and usually
manages to get an hours work on any
tooth no matter how SIN the cavity.
Another dentist in New York will fill no
tooth less than $50 or 500. Dentists
charge all prices for god and silver fill
ings. As | have already stated, the av-
cragc price raid fer an upper and lower
set OF teeth is $50 If | WAS unknown to
dentist who usual y receives that price,
l will wager you, that at this tin c of the
year, l cou d get the work done for la f
that amount. Yes, think $50 or even
SIS would do the trek. Suayity
of manner is the great
drawing card of many dentists.
Ladies prefer to patronizc pleasant and
agreeable dentists to men who are surly
and uncouth IN manners. Dentists who
are personally popular have the largest
incomes. Women dentist? o., yes.
To my knowledge there is one in Brook
lyn. This lady attends almost cxclu-
sive'y to women and children. Occa-
sionaly she has male patient, but not
often"
"Do women make n success of DENTS
tryl'
"Not always. The feminine mind is
sometimes unablr to .rasp its intr cacics.
Many women dentists practice their pro-
fession in New York. They are usually
discouraged in their attempts to study
dentistry, as close association with male
students has often unpleasant results.
The only plan which think would work
satisfactorily would be to separate the
sexes in dental colleges. This plan has
shown good results in medical schools.
More women dentists practice their pro-
fession in Europe than in America
"How are twelve dollar n set teeth,
made while you wait, manfacturcdl'
SIN almost the same manner that $50
sets are made. A mechanical dentist
would charge the same price ($s) for
making $l2 set of teeth as he would
for higher priced set. Dentists, how
ever, who make teeth at the rate named
always do their own work. In cheap
upper and lower sets of teeth the teeth
cost So, while in the higher priced sets
the teeth are worth but s. more. In
.hnnn snt. tho nnly nnlitinnnl nynnnSn