The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-07
THE WORLDS GREAT MOUTH.
b often Filled With American ArtI
fetal Teeth.

fetal Teeth.
The growth of the artificial teeth in.
lustry is one of the most important
Of scientific advances, says the Scen.
tific American. At one time teeth
were made from various worries (ele.
phant and hippopotamus tusk being
favorites), from the teeth of some
animals, and also from human teeth.
None of these were satisfactory The
ivory of the elephant and hi3popota-
mus tusk was not impervious to the
action of the decomposing agents, and
soon became Objectionable The hui
man teeth were better protected by
enamel but the mere thought OF
using such teeth was enough to make
one shudder. In time from this crude
beginning the porcelain, or as 1t was
sometimes called the "incorruptible"
tooth was evolved, and this is in use
today.
With the invention of porcelain
makers were able to do what they
never could with the old ivory teeth.
namely, to color them to match the
real teeth and thus diminish the
chance of detection in the mouth. In
the great factories where teeth ar3
now turned out by the million labor
of the most skilled kind is employed
to make the teeth match them and
assemble them properly for the use
of the customer. Women perform an
important part of this work, for their
keen sense of touch enables them tn
quickly detect flaws in the finished
article, and their superior education
In the matter of matching colors
makes II possible for them to detect
a variation of the slightest shade in
the teeth. so that teeth that to mon
may seem perfectly matched vii, 10
woman's eyes show slight differ
ences that are sufficient to impair
their value.
But before the finished teeth are
submitted to the keen eyes of the
girl examiners for the final test, they
have to pass through a succession Of
processes. Porcelain teeth are com.
posed of two parts, one being the body
and the other the enamel The first
Gtep in the making of the tooth is the
mixing of the ingredients for the por-
.elain. This is done by experienced
chemists, for the material must be
hawless. The body comprises vari.
Gus components, for each manufao
turer has his own formula, and these,
of course, are factory secrets Broad.
ly, however, 1t may be said that the
body of the artificial tooth Is made
| from feldspar Casually called SPAR,
slick, and kaolin. The enamel is made
from feldspar with a little silex and
coloring matter. For the information
| of the the eXacting reader, 1t may be
said that the feldspar is composed OF
silica, alumina, potash, lime, and
oxide of iron. 1t is found In various
part OF the y. s., near Boston,
Philadelphia, Wilmingtcil, Del, and
elsewhere. Kaolin is merely the Chi.
nese name for porcelain clay. It is
| formed by the decomposition of the
feldspar of granite hills, which washes
down into the valleys below It can
be obtained in various parts OF the
| country
The colorlng materials used in the
making of the teeth are gold and its
! oxides; purple of Cassius, oxide Of
inagnanese, oxide of cobalt, platina
sponge or filings, oxide of titanium,
oxide of silver, and oxide of uranium.
The material for the body of the
te 9TH is first heated to a While heat
AMI thrown into cold water. 1t Is theii
broken into small pieces, freed from
impurities and ground in a mortar
till 1t will pass through sieve OF No
bolting cloth When the maternal
has been finally treated and fused
and mixed with slick and kaolin, it
Is OF a semi-translucent appearance.
With this material the skilled work.
ers in the factory mould the teeth
to the desired shape. When new
teeth are ordered--and there are
fashions in teeth as well as In every
other line Of commerce-it Is neces-
sary first TO make mould. Tho
greatest care is taken by hand work.
ersto the preparation Of these moulds.