The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1889-11-29
FILLING A TOOTH.
Contrast Between tho Methods of Old
Tine Dentists and Those of To-day.

when an old-time dentist began to
preparea q tooth for filing, said den
list to i Philadelphia Nea0s reporter,
.'he began by laboriously removing the
decay from the cavity in the tooth with
a hand-drill-a sort of cup-shaped
gouge. a great deal of difficulty was
experienced in keeping the tooth dry, as
the least tmoisture in the cavity would
prevent the filing from packing. To
overcome this the patients head was
thrown back until his face was horizon
tai, and a napkin was constantly en-
ploycd TO wipe off the tooth. If the
nerve was exposed it was killed with a
red-hot wire, a proceeding, l can assure
you, that in the anti-nitrous-oXide gas
days caused the patient to screcch with
great vigor. When the hole had been
properly drilled out--two hours work,
at least-the filling was put in and
packed into place by what was known
as 'hand-pressure simply pressing the
gold in with u steel needle. Later on
the hand mallet came into vogue. The
filling was hammered into place with q
steel prod and q metal nlallet. process
requiring two operators rs-one to hold
the mouth open and direct the prod,
while the other gave the mallet strokes.
1t was not calculated to make q man
particularly happy, especially if the
nerve had been Improperly treated.
'sAfter the hand mallet came the auto
matte plugger, and with it a most in
gcnious idea. called the rubber DAM
That is simply 4 sheet OF thin rubber,
into which holes are PUNCHED by an in
strument so adjusted that the hole can
be of any required size. The dam is
placed over the tooth, first being secured
behind the head with clamps, and not
a particle Of spittle can interfere with
the operation. To make this doubly
sure y silken ligatnrc is tied around the
| tooth, and, the patient being provided
| with q saliva eiector, The operator is
free to work without hinderance or de-
lay. look upon the rubber dam 4:
| invaluable.
''Ihc automatic plugger is now Civ.
ing way to the electric 'p-'!Ggger, an in
genious little instrument operated BY
electricity that gives q multiplicity o
strokes whose force can be regulated a
will. You can readily see how quickly
the work can be done.
THE preparatory process is equally
speedy. A four-cell battery furnishe
power to revolving rod. which turn:
1000 times q minute. The end of thu
rod is hollow, and into it is fitted drill
which the operator selects from larg
collection rs best suited for the size ant
depth OF the cavity. 70 snch state G
perfection HIS this been brought that
is possible to drill all around the nerve
then put cap over 1t, and over the Gu
the filling. When the tootll-structur
shows that the nerve should be destroy
ed it is deyilalized by u painless process
This, however, is not often necessary
After the filling process is completed tn
rough surface of the gold is made llus
with the tooth by means Of Z rapid
rcvolv ing corundum-whecl propelled b
the same electric power. An hour su
fees for the entire operation. Ten {
: fifteen years ago halliday was col
SulueQ and often ycrv IlnSatiSfactOril