The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-05
X RAYS TO FIND TEETH.
Chicago Dentist Puts the New Light
to New Use.


For the much-experimented- *
ray another new use has been discov-
cred. A Chicago dentist has enlisted
It's help in discovering the position of a
tooth, and has made a glowing success
at the method. From now on the
Roentgen process takes it's place in
the science of dentistry.
Dr. A. M. Markle, in the Columbus
Memorial building, is the originator of
this novel application of the x ray.
The idea came to him as a solution of
one of the hardest problems in
tightening teeth which he has en-
countered in long time. In this new
field, as in surgery, however, the new
photography was found more than
equal to the demands made upon it,
and the greatest success has so far at
tended the operation.
There was one front tooth missing in
the upper jaw of the problem which
brought out the X ray. The vacancy
was not caused by accident or neglect,
but was due to the fact that the tooth
was in hiding somewhere in the gum,
but the dentist was not certain of it's
true position. Hence the Roentgen ray.
1t was difficult job to take
shadow picture Of the upper jaw of a
man so as to show the teeth. Two
ways presented themselves. One was
to put the CroOkes tube in the mouth
other to put the plate in the mouth
and the source of the rays outside. Ow-
ing to the comparative sizes of the
tube and the mans mouth the latter
method was chosen.
piece of bromide paper, extremely
sensitive to light was first cut in a
dark room to a size which would
just fit into the roof of the patients
mouth. Then it was wrapped in
opaque paper and brought out to the
Crookes tube. When all the arrange
ments were made the piece Of paper
was pressed into the top of the pa
tents mouth, the tube placed just be-
side the nose, and the current turned
on.
After a three-minute exposure In this
constrained position the piece of paper
was removed and developed in the usual
way. The result was the first working
shadow picture of mans teeth.
The Roentgen photograph showed
plainly and Enthusiastically the position
of the tooth sought for. 1t lay close
beside the roots and inside of the other
front teeth and was evidently just
waiting for an opportunity to descend
into the light of day. This chance DR..
Markle Immediately furnished it. Cut
ting a sQua of the gum away he found
the point of the tooth in the exact po-
sition shown by the shadow photo
graph. A small hole was drilled into
the tooth and little gold screw in
serted. Then a block and tackle in
the shape of silk ligatures and a set OF
steel springs was attached and the rest
left to time. Since then the tooth has
gradually appeared. until now 1t is
rapidly coming down into the vacant
place.
But the most astonishing part OF the
performance is yet to come. When the
tooth appeared in the light of day it
was found that it was a double tooth,
or mOlar of the kind commonly be-
lieved to inhabit the back of peoples
jaws and never to grow in front. The
dentists say, however, that such teeth
are sometimes found in front, being
in the nature of freaks.
When this tooth is well down so that
it can be easily handled it will be eX-
tracted. Then the x ray will be used
for the second time to find the still
missing front tooth of the ordinary
type, which is undoubtedly somewhere
in the gum, waiting for a Moses to
lead it out into its proper position.
When this is accomplished the set Will
be complete and the science of dentis-
try enriched by the successful opera
ton of a new method Of finding hidden
teeth.