Evening star., 1914-09-25
How the War Affects Us.
xxxIlI.-In Dental Sup
plies.
By Frederic J. Haskin.

Next year the society girl may be
/ forced to return to the fashion of her
mothers girlhood. She may have her
pearly teeth decorated with one or
more gold filings placed there be-
cause the war in Europe has shut off
the supply of synthetic porcelain from
Germany. A generation ago gold fill
ings were regarded as rather orna-
mental than otherwise. In fact, arti-
fetal teeth were frequently made with
small cavities in order that they might
be mbellished with gold if the owner
| wished. Now the highest form of
dental art demands that the filings be
as inconspicuous as possible. With the
perfected use Of prepared porcelain
many dentists pride themselves upon
/ the fact that even their largest NIL
ings are practically invisible.
l. From a hygienic standpoint gold has
always been regarded as par excellence
In tooth filings. Even after porcelain
nss nlissd were in S"1s wbsn 6sw patients
| known lecturer, clergyman and ed
ucator, decided to have his teeth put
in order few years ago, a number of
large cavities conspicuously located
were found. One dentist after another
| advised porcelain, but he insisted that
he would have nothing but gold placed
| in his mouth.
| Finally, a dentist agreed to comply
with the wishes of his distinguished
patron upon the express condition that
his identity be kept secret He was
not willing to run the gantlet of
brethren which he felt would result
from the rich display of gold made
every time the lecturer opened his
| mouth.
| But, unless some American chemist is
prompt in discovering substitutes for
| some of the
American Substitutes in cred tents
for German Porcelain. renara.
tions, many similar effects may be
traced to the European war. Certain
kinds Of porcelain filings have been
manufactured in this country for
years. The welded filings will not be
affected by the war, because the mate
rials contained in them can be supplied
in this country. These filings are made
from impressions taken of the cavities
The porcelain is' nodded on the form
thus obtained. After being baked and
finished they are cemented into place
This is a tedious, difficult process, pos
sible only for certain kinds of cavities.
1t Is not well adapted to slender front
teeth.
For front teeth the porcelain filing
in use consists of a powder and LIQUID
put up separately. These are mixed
together to form a soft paste imme-
diately before being applied to the
tooth. The German firm possessing the
formula for this porcelain preparation
exchanged it several years ago with
an. American firm in return for the
formula Of a certain kind Of cement
The porcelain, formula is of little use
now since some of its ingre iients can
be obtained only through German
chemists The supply Of material
nearly a year. After that we NAV be
forced to return to gold filings unless
an American chemist has been clever
enough to meet this dental emergency.
X
The stoppage Of the supply of plat
mum is more important to the dental
world than the
Platinum Shortage threatened short
Nry;u D. r.14 age Of porcelain.
| VIII oe sAs' The teeth will
not suffer by the substitution of gold
for porcelain even thought the effect
will be less artistic. But without
platinum few artificial teeth can be
placed in position.
Russia practically supplies all of the
platinum of the world. For several
years the quantity has been lessening
because the ore taken out is less rich
than formerly. A small quantity of
platinum is known to exist in South
America and in one or two other coun-
tries. Last year 721 ounces of refined
platinum were produced in the United
States from deposits located in califor-
mia. Oregon and Wyoming. In COM
ported from Russia last year the Amer
lean resources are not worthy of con-
sideration in this emergency.
Platinum in dental work is used for
the pins which fasten the artificial
teeth in place. No other metal can be
used for this. Gold cannot be heated
to the welding point and other metals
oxidixe or are affected by the acidity
of the mouth. For years dentists have
been seeking composition metal
which could be substituted for plati-
mum in dentistry. A number Of such
substitutes have been advertised and
are found upon the market, but all OF
these arc lacking in the peculiar quail
ties Of platinum. One of them. at first
believed to be perfect, was found to
turn green after being in the patients