Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-03-11
THE TEETH WE WEAR.
How They Are Made and What They Are
Msde or


Msde or
The elaborate array of artificial teeth
on exhibition at the meeting OF the
New England Dental Society in this
city was striking on account of the
great nunDrr aud variety shown rs
well rs thrir beauty of finish and artis-
tic arrangement 10 one inclined 10
BE- moruidIy sensitive tine long rows of
glisiening white molars might be
CHASTITY in their suggeslivenrss, and
the feeling thus produced could not
but be intensified rs the human skill
fnl manipula,or grasped an upper and
lower set attacued TO plates. in one
hand and let them grin out at one be-
tween two fingers to show their natur-
aluc~s. or skIllfully worked them in
imitation of the jaws action to display
their a,laptability 10 each other. The
ordinary observer could lind much to
admire, howe, or, in the collection aud
not the least interesting feature Was
the contrast in make and finish be-
tween the exhibits OF teeth oil English
and American manufacture, there be-
ing quite Il large display of the former.
The Enalish, to Judge from this exhibit,
prefer to have their artificial teeth lar
ger, darker and more closely resemb-
ling natural teeth in irregularity than
do the people in this country. and up.
on inquiry of the agent of the English
firm, who has had abundant opportu-
nifty for observation and contrast in
the matter, this was found to be actu-
any the case.
A gentleman representing one Of the
largest manufactures OF artiIcial teeth
in this country was requested by rep
resentalive oil the Free Press to give
some information rs To the kinds of
material Used in the composition of
teeth and the method Of Lner manu-
tacture. ii suppose you have heard, !"
said he, ''oi the old idea of their origin
aud OF the superstition winch Is said to
have formerly existed in the minds of
the ignorant against the use of false
teeth from the fact that one could not
be absolutely certain that in using
Them he was not using the Instruments
of masticalion Of some DECEASED friend.
have heard old dentists say that they
1;id encounter, Il prejudice OF this kind,
but Us you may Imagine that was u
good while ago.
"Well, the principal of the tooth is
peculiar quailty OF field spar, the
most OF that which we use coming
from Delaware. 1t is mined like coal,
and ground into fine powder. The
spar forms the body Of the tooth, but it
is soft substance and it is mixed with
silex to harden it, the proportion of
the mixture used by us Deing secret
! Formerly the teeth were enameled alter
being partially baked, but ali the ma
teriais, incinding the colorlng matter.
are now mixed together ut the outset,
the whole forming mass much re-
sembaing dough. This is kneaded by
mach.ncry and when the kneading pro-
Cess Is complete the dough is III u very
| plastic state and is ready tor the mold.
Some OF the moids are single and
others are Tor three teeth joined to-
getner as they appear In market. the
dough is put into the molds, with u
spalula, the mold having previously
been fitted with the short-heaued wires
OF platinum which are seen in single
teeth and wnich serve TO attach them
to the rubber plate. No other avalla-
bic metal would stand the. heat to
wnich the moius are subjected, SO pla.
| tinum has TO be used, the wires in
every single set Of teeth being worth
about o. cents.
"Ihe teeth are allowed to stand in
the mods until they become semi-solid,
when they are taken out and laid on
strips OF platinum and arc now ready
for the baking process. The furnace
used tor TINS operation Is provided
with large number of apertures to
admit the mutfies or ovens IN which
tine plarlnum pi,.tes bearing the teeth
are placed. These muifics are hall
cylinders made OF tire-c.ay, and they
are solid except ut one end, which has
cover provlucd with peep-h0ie
through whicn tue baker can watch
the process. The baking Of teeth is tn
most important step in their nlanufact
ure; for if allowed to remain in tn
oven too long they will be very brittle
and if taken ont too quick they will b,
soft. but in either case they are spoiled
The operator is guided entirely by tn
eye in deciding when to Withdraw th
mut1ies from the furnace, which j
done when the teeth have reached
certain tint: and the particular tint dc
pended upon by the baker is chez
isi,ed secret, the muffias arc allowed t
remain in the furnace from one to tw
MINUTES. according to the temperature
Alter the teeth have cooled they ar
rr.liy for carding, which is done b
women and girls, and, this done, the
ar. r..a.,y for market"
'.Do you have much difficulty ]
matching teethP' asked the reporter
Yes. tnat is the mast perplexin
thing IN the business. A dentist wi
send US Il ample tooth from which W
are to gain an htea OF the coior wante,
and it frequently requires hours
srarcning t" iii the oruer. You woul
scarceiy think ii. to look ato,Ircxhibi
but we have here about fifty ditferer
tints of teeth, and yet most peop
would call them white. tell you
mam VINO sells teeth must not De II
| ciiiie,i tu eolor-hllntin ness. ~ Burtt35,