Evening star., 1946-08-27
Letters to The Star
Here's a Subject Our Readers
Really Want to Chew on

Really Want to Chew on
To the Editor Of The Star:
This is in reply to the letter appearing
in The Evening Star OF August 23, signed
"A Dental Cripple"
Whoever penned said letter is OBJ
viously not well informed regarding
dental matters, or she (or heD would
be aware of the fact that dentists do not
make teeth" Dentists have the re-
sponsibility Of designing and construct
ing artificial dentures to meet the very
exacting requirements of the individual,
and innumerable factors have therefore
prominently to be borne in mind Skilled
artisans fashion the actual teeth to be
used.
And, said writer would be impressed
to learn OF the intensive research that
was the forerunner of the production
of these teeth. Also, the painstaking
effort expended to make them as natu-
ral-appearing as Is humanity possible
and the infinite care that is involved in
their manufacture. Furthermore, since
there are hundreds of artificial dentures
constructed in Washington daily {and
this means thousands annually, seri-
ously doubt If 1t would be possible for
any one to scrutinize them so carefully
as definitely to establish the fact that
they are either natural or artificial.
Then there's ones Hfe-span to consider,
also!
No. What I seriously believe is that
this writer, as she stares at "the passing
throng," unwittingly Is led to decide that
the teeth that displease her OF necessity
must be artificial, whereas the ones that
please her are taken as a matter of
course. In other words, she is oblivious
Of these. If the truth were known, how
ever, 1t Is these pleasing" ones that
many, many times are artificial, believe
1t or not!
Remember: "Only God can make a
tree" and only God can make tooth
and only fools like me, standing in His
image. try to ape Him! That's right;
you've guessed it: am dentist. And
I've been engaged in the practice of dem
tistry for many years. Furthermore, I
am graduate artist. So I should be
able to express some of these thoughts
with authority. Therefore, woe unto
you, should any one Of number Of COM
pletely happy and satisfied denture-
Wearers whom ! have known, even hear
you whisper the word, Handicapped. {"
You'd never hear the end of it.!
DOCTOR OF DENTAL SURGERY.
To the Editor of Tho Star:
I read something of interest per-
tanning to artificial eyes by Ruth Dean
in The Sunday Star. Now for the
question about false teeth that are
natural in appearance, can say very
truthfully that I had a set of false
teeth made and every one says they are
beautl1ul. w.
To the Editor Of The Star:
I recommend to Dental Cripple" an
article in the current New Yorker which
will amuse him. There is a dentist who
makes natural-looking teeth here in
Washington. He makes casts OF the
old teeth and jaw before extractions;
then copies ito the life"
I went to his Office one day 10 years
ago, and@he said: What do you think
of the nurses teeth?" I answered:
well, they look pretty badly in need
OF Strengthening, and are not a very
attractive color" He replied: IT just
made them for her last week." OF
course, I was amazed. N.
To the Editor of The Star:
am SO glad that I saw Dental
Cripple's" letter in The Star because I
believe I can tell him these things he
wishes. to know:
mind so much the effect of un-
natural-looking teeth that begged for
credible ones.
This was effected by these means:
1. Having the teeth Of slightly differ
ent colors.
@ Having them slightly and irregu-
larly Tapped.
g. Having the edges-the line of the
bite-slightly irregular Also, the gum
line bit imperfect.
Then, they can have a few porcelain
filings!
OF course. all Of this beguiling OF the
eye Is not necessary-only the amounts
that suit you. L.
I