Evening star., 1914-09-25

wolves risk a reputable dentist will
hesitate to run.
4 X
Except for the platinum pins the
war will not affect the supply of arti-
fetal teeth, as has
Plenty Artificial been rumored. Prac-
n., tically all of the
! in this country are OF home manufac-
ture. If necessary. the United States
could supply the world with this prod
| uct. The feldspar of North Carolina
produces as fine porcelain rs any in
the world, and the American methods
Of manufacture have greatly improved
during the last ten years. England and
America have been gradually leading
the world in the production Of teeth.
The quality Of the products Of the two
countries are regarded as equal. though
they are manufactured by different
| methods. By the English method the
porcelain is mixed in liquid form and
allowed to harden before being baked.
IN America the porcelain Is pressed
| INTO the mold after being mixed to
doughlike consistency. 1t is claimed
that the English teeth arc smoother
and the American teeth less brittle.
But the market price and supposed
value are equal. Since the war has
opened an advance Of cents per tooth
has already been madc upon the retail
price Of artificial teeth sold to dentists.
| This increase Is due to the increased
, value Of platinum pins and not short
age In the supply of teeth.
Attempts are now being made with
some small degree of success to fasten
teeth on to plate by having g. groove
IN each tooth which can be filled with
not yet been worked out dependabiy.
II would be of no use in applying a
tooth directly to the jaw o. the root
OF a natural tooth.
Rubber is one of the dental mate
| rails which has greatly increased in
price since the
AuDDer Also war opened.
Increases in Price. dme n "Iie 10 :. 20 20
scarcity. At one time last month 1t is
said that not single pound of rubber
was on sale in New York city. This
Is temporary condition which will af-
rect other industries more than that
OF the dental supplies The rubber
contained in single automobile tire
would make dozens of plates for arti-
nclal teeth. Gold and silver can be
substituted for rubber in making arti-
ncial plates, and platinum may also be
used, but since this metal cannot be
soidered plate calls for a band of
rubber or some substance to which the
teeth may be attached.
Inc dental supplies trade is most op-
tlmistic as to the final effect of the war
upon its business. Already orders
nave peen given for a large shipment
or teeth to South America which had
formerly given the preference to Eng
lsh teeth. Dealers believe that this
war VIII give America the leadership
IN every sort of dental supply. Except
for the chemicals already referred to.
every article necessary to the equip
ment OF high-grade dental laboratory
Is Delng manufactured in the United
States The quality is of highest
grade. especially that of mechanical
tools and instruments.
number OF dental instruments of
american design and finish have been
copied in Germany in inferior qualities
for years past They have been ship
ped over to this country and sold di-
rectly to dentists by personal repre- |
than dealers charge for the American
made goods. 1t is hard to convince an
American that an article made in Ger
many is not superior to one manufac-
tured In his own country. Conse-
quently, ''the carpet-bag men," who gol
from one dentist to another selling
small instruments. have been the bette
noir of every regular dealer in dental
supplies This business has been stop
ped within the past month, and dem
lists are now going to the established
dealers for their dental supplies. Most
Of these are Of American manufacture,
and the dentists are already testifyingj
to their superior quality.
test case was made in Washington |
a few days ago upon some small steel
burrs used In
Highest Quality polishing teeth
Cheapest in End. burr. n - se,d ef m an
81 a hundred. while the American cost
SO. Glass is a substance most nearly
resembling the enamel on human
teeth. so a piece of glass was selected
for the test. A hole was bored into 1t
with an American burr and another
with German burr. The two burrs
were examined afterward. The Ameri-
can burr was in as good condition as
before. while the German burr was
worn rough and practically valueless
The dentist who made the test had
been buying German burrs because