A New or Improved Enamel for Re-fixing the Dental Plates of Artificial Teeth.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Enamel for Re-fixing the Dental Plates of
Artificial Teeth.
I, THOMAS CLARKE, of Choisy, Interlaken, Switzerland, Doctor of Medicine,..
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement; -
My invention relates a new or improved enamel for re-fixing the dental plates
of artificial teeth, and is designed for the purpose of overcoming the looseness
of dental plates of artificial teeth, resulting from the shrinking of the gums,
or arising from other causes, obviating thereby the necessity for a new model
to be taken of the mouth, time after time, and the cost, delay and inconvenience
attending the recovering of the plates. It matters little of what the dental plates,
are made, vulcanite or gold, or whether none, or how many of the natural teeth
remain, as long as there is no undue pressure on any point of the gums. So far
does my invention extend that the prominences of the artificial teeth need not
be ground down flat or level, but may be maintained, so that the grinding power,
on the food may be preserved.
Where no natural teeth remain and where complete sets are required in any.
sudden emergency, by keeping a series of different sizes in stock, a new double,
or single set of teeth may be supplied and comfortably and accurately fitted in
a very short space of time, and this even after the immediate extraction of the
teeth, avoiding thereby weeks and sometimes months of very unpleasant and,
unsightly delay. All that is required in any and every case is an easy channel,
for the gums to rest in, the enamel doing the rest.
In making my rubber enamel for these purposes I proceed as follows:-
First I make a saturated solution of the soft pink rubber used by dentists,,
by dissolving it in the finest refined machine oil. I put the rubber and oil in
a jar and then place the jar in a pan of boiling water, keeping the water boiling
round it, constantly stirring it and adding a little oil carefully until the rubber.
is dissolved. When cold. it is of the consistence of thick cream and then I scent;
it with otto of roses or some other suitable essential oil.
7
Then, 2nd, I take five parts (by weight) of the finest gums (but preferably:
the finest yellow gum-shell-lac) and place it also in a suitable jar. To this I
add three parts of rectified spirits of wine and place the jar in a pan of hot water,
on a slow fire until the whole of the gum is entirely dissolved. To this I add
three parts of the best plaster of Paris reground to the utmost fineness in a mortar
with a sufficient quantity of carmine to make it of a pink shade and ultimately mix.
I then add one and a half parts of the pink rubber composition, that is to say,,
as much as the other two constituents will carry and, lastly, to ensure purity and
to keep the breath sweet I add one twentieth part of pure Condy's fluid and then
carefully. mix the whole together. The enamel should now be of the consistence.
of thick oil-paint and should be gently re-heated on the fire and again well-stirred,,.
and, if too thick may be thinned by adding a little more of the rectified spirit.

page_text: In the application of my enamel, the pieces to be treated are first well cleaned
and warmed by being plunged into boiling water, and dried or warmed over the
low flame of a spirit-lamp and then the hot enamel is laid smoothly on the gum-
surface of the plates thickly or thinly according to the looseness of the same.
When the plates are so loose as to require an extra thick coating of the enamel,
I prefer to put it on in two layers and to let the first layer set before applying
the second.
-
After the enamel is put on, it is advisable to warm the piece over the low flamed
spirit-lamp which ensures the distribution of the enamel equally. The piece
(or pieces) must then rest for a few minutes until the enamel is sufficiently set
to bear the impression of the finger nail. It is then dipped in cold water for an
instant and gently inserted in the mouth and the stringent pressure of the jaws
exercised.
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1
14
The pieces may then be removed dipped in hot water for a few seconds to soften
the enamel and the process repeated until it is seen and felt that the "bite" is
perfect all round and that an accurate fit, and an equable-pressure-over-the whole
surface of the gums, is obtained. When no further pressure is found of use and
the mould is perfect, any overflow of the enamel may be scraped-off with an
ivory or bone bladed knife or its equivalent, and replaced in the pot for further
use. The edges may then be hardened by running them round the low flame of
a. spirit-lamp.
J
If at any time the fit is too accurate and any slight tightness is felt, or the plates
are in the least-uncomfortable, dipping them in hot water for a second or two..
removes the difficulty, while if any point of the gum is tender or swelled, the
enamel may be pressed down at that point or it may be peeled off so as to bridge
the painful spot over and the part covered or not with a thinner solution. Any
too prominent part of a tooth may be easily removed by the use of a suitable file,
or the like. It is also clear that the pressure on any part must be from the hard
vulcanite or gold plate itself and this part of the plate must be freely cut or
taken away as the enamel is too soft to cause any pain.
3
3
Though the enamel sets sufficiently hard it is also from the heat of the mouth
somewhat elastic, so that all plates (whether too loose or not) are benefitted by
it because the gums have a softer bed to rest upon.
The proportions of the ingredients given in this specification are what I have
found most suitable for ordinary cases, but by varying them so as to make a softer
enamel by leaving out the plaster of l'aris, or a harder or stick enamel, by leaving
out the rubber oil, the adaptabilities of the process are multiform. When a tooth
has been extracted, the space in the dental plate above may be covered temporarily
by the stick or harder enamel. It is a very easy matter also, if desired, to cover
the enamel with one or two layers of gold leaf, or to rub them into it and which,
though not necessary, gives it an ornamental appearance.
To remove the enamel it is only necessary to put the plate into boiling water
for about sixty seconds when the enamel is easily removed by a very stiff tooth
brush or by a round ended ivory or bone knife, and after the surfaces have been
brushed over with spirits of wine a 're-application may be made in the manner
already described.
. If
any
natural teeth remain in the jaw, the fit of the piece is materially assisted,
as the enamel when dipped in the hot water becomes soft as pulp and can be
moulded round the teeth, thereby dispensing with the use of all clasps, which is
a most valuable condesideration, as clasps of whatever description round sound teeth
must inevitably destroy them and cause the pieces to be remade with a renewal
of annoyance and expense.
The enamel is absolutely innocuous as all the ingredients employed are perfectly
harmless and this has been the great consideration sought after. It is both
tasteless and (unless scent is used) scentless and renders the articulation and
suction perfect, nor does it either. shrink.or swell. Any part may be scraped.
off and replaced at once. When required for use, it is only necessary to put the

page_text: pot or jar into hot water until dissolved and well mixed and diluted if too thick
with a little rectified spirits.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-.
The new or improved enamel for refixing the dental plates of artificial teeth,
composed of the ingredients used in or about the quantities specified.
Dated this 12th day of March 1898.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.