University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1909-09-22
TWENTIETH CENTURY DENTISTRY
How Gold Inlays Are Made and Put
Into the Teeth.

| INTO the Ieetn.
The modern dentist now makes gold
inlays as well as inlays of porcelain.
In making an ordinary gold filling the
cavity in the tooth is made larger with
in than at its opening, the walls thus
contracting helping to hold the filling
in The cavity for gold inlay must
of course be at least as large at the
opening as at any interior point, for the
inlay is in a solid block.
There may be various reasons for
putting into tooth gold inlay in
stead of filling malleted in. For one
reason it may be that the walls of the
tooth are too frail to stand the mallet-
ing without danger of breaking, or it
may be that the gold inlay is to 90 into
back, grinding tooth, where a malleted
filling would not serve the purpose.
An ordinary gold filling such as is NAL
leted in is made of pure gold; if it were
otherwise it could not be worked; a
gold inlay can be alloyed to make it
of degree of hardness sufficient to
withstand use
Porcelain inlays are commonly set
in front teeth, where they do not show
as a gold filling would. The porcelain
powders of which such inlays are made
are produced in practically endless
variety of shades, which can be further
varied by combination.
1t is possible to make a porcelain
inlay that will match the surrounding
tooth so perfectly that except upon the
closest inspection it is impossible to tell
where the tooth leaves off and the in
lay begins. Porcelain inlays, which are
moulded into shape from the plastic
material and then baked may be set in
grinding teeth, but this is not COM
monty done. A porcelain inlay that
might not break if stepped on might
break in grinding tooth in USE
A perfect amalgam filling will wear
as well and as long as the tooth in
which it is set, but amalgam discolors |
in time, and there are persons who will
not have an amalgam filling even in
Il back tooth, out of sight For these !
people for grinding tooth gold inlays
are made.
In whatever sort of tooth the gold
inlay is to be placed, the cavity when
drilled out is furrowed down its sides
within with little grooves, into which |
corresponding mouldings on the inlay |
will fit, this to hold the inlay more Sc
curely in place and the better to enable |
1t to withstand pressure applied to it
from various directions. and with the .
cavity finished form or pattern is ta-
ken of it in wax. Into one end of /
this little form or pattern in wax is
thrust a delicate wire, by which it can
be handled without handling the form
itself, and then this pattern is set in a
tiny flask, and around it. as in a foun-
dry the moulders pack sand around pat
terms in making moulds in bigger TASKS. Il
plaster is packed.
When this tiny mould containing the
wax pattern for the inlay has hardened
the wire is drawn out of the pattern
and the wax is melted out of the mould.
and then there is the mould ready for
the casting, which is done by the aid of
various special appliances made for the
purpose. Then you break the little
plaster mould and there, released, YOU
have the gold inlay.
1t is set into place with cement.
which after an hour or two in which to
harden holds the inlay firmly AMI Sc
curely anchored. In due time later the
dentist will grind it down around to
make it perfectly flush with the sur
rounding Doth surface and polish It'll
New York Sun II