The Northwest times. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1947-1955, 1950-11-25
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AHkAA UslrrasuY or WASHINGTON
SUBSTITUTES FOR MISSING
TEETH

OF all the diseases to which man
is subject, tooth decay is the most
prevalent. Only five people out o.
every hundred can expect to escape
it. Statistics indicate that at the
age OF twenty-five. the average psr-
son will have lost four teeth. and e.
the age of forty. according 10 the
law of averages, ne will be missing
zen 5f his thirty-two teeth.
The last quarter of a century has
seen marked changes in the method
of tooth requirements. Although
The basic principles OF tooth re
placements still remain the same,
the field of modern reconstructiVe
work has received a tremendous i'm
petus in scientific development and
practical application, with the in
production OF new casting processes
and with the use of new materials.
The four basic methods common
~ used for replacing teeth are as
follows % fixed bridgework. %
removable bridgework, 80 partial
dentures. and "a full dentures. In
all of the above four types Of re
placements. the modern dentist has
enumsrable opportunities for exer-
cising good judgment and skill of
the highest degree.
Fixed brigdework is always an
chored to the natural teeth and re-
ceives its support from them. Due
to this permanent fixation, the
bridge becomes an integral part OF
the natural denture, giving it firm
ness and stability. Through the
art of ceramics and plastics, oQpor-
tunities are afforded for restoring
broken down and dilapidated teeth,
md supplying missing ones with
fixed bridgework in a manner which
makes them appear altogether ma
tural and lifelike.
Removable bridgework and par
tial dentures are essentially the
same although the mechanical
principles underlying their con-
struction differ. These applianc IS
supply one or more missing teeth,
but less than a complete set in Ell
cher jaw and are always removable
Finally we come to the full den
ture, to which some of us must re-
concile ourselves sooner or later.
This phase of practice, technically
known as full denture prosthesis"
has now reached high stage of de
velopment which is comparable to
other restorative work in the field
of dentistry.
First of all, a modern dentist is
able to supply the patient with an
immediate denture right aftsr the
extraction of the natural teeth This
saves the patient the embarrass-
ment of being without any teeth
while waiting for the gums to heal
Furthermore. the immediate den
lure acts as a protective covering
and prevents particles of food from
getting into the open sockets and.
TO- the general health of the patient
can be more readily maintained.
Another development is the recent
Introduction of plastic teeth and o.
ther lifelike materials. Dentures
made of these products not only 81
mulate Natures own color of teeth
and gums, but, in addition the pl9s-
tic teeth absorb the im3act of The
teeth during mastication and help
to preserve the ridges upon which
the denture rests.
However, with all the modern me-
thods and new developments. there
S no substitute equal to your natu-
raj teeth. Proper diet. mouth hy-
siene and proper application of pre-
Yentive measures will help to avoid
dental carries, which is the devasta-
ting disease that is responsible for
the vast destruction and loss of