IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN DENTAL OPERATIONS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
APPARATUS FOR USE IN DENTAL OPERATIONS." A cominunication from abroad
by Henry Craik Howells, of Flushing, in the County of Queens, and State
of New York, United States of America.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th March 1876.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR USE IN DENTAL OPERATIONS."
communication from abroad by Henry Craik Howells, of Flushing, in the County
of Queens, and State of New York, United States of America.
A
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the operation of filling teeth and
other dental operations by keeping the saliva away from the teeth being operated
upon, and at same time enable the dentist to see his work at all times, while
leaving his hands free.
The Invention consists in a dental dam made by forming a depression in the
body of a plate of rubber or other suitable material and in the coinbination of a
reflector with the body of a dental dain, whether made with or without a depression,
as herein-after fully described.
Figure 1 of the Drawing is a plan view of the improved dental dam, showing a
reflector applied to it; Figure 2 is a section of the same, taken through the line x, x,
Figure 1 Figure 3 is a detail section showing another mode of attaching the
reflector Figure 4 is a detail section showing a third mode of attaching the
reflector; Figure 5 represents a modification of the reflector; similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents a plate of thin sheet-rubber, in the body of which is formed a
depression a', which may be made of any desired size or depth, and may be direct
or inclined a little to one or the other side, if desired. In using the device the
depression a' is inserted in the mouth of the patient; a short slit is formed in it
directly opposite the tooth to be operated upon to receive the said tooth and one or
more teeth upon each side of it, so that when the plate is pressed around the teeth
it may dam the saliva away from said teeth. The depression dam A, a¹, I prefer to

page_text: make of rubber, but it may be made of any other suitable flexible material. To
enable the dentist to see the teeth while at work upon them I attach a reflector B
to the depression a¹ in such a position as to throw the light upon the tooth, and
thus enable the dentist to see his work constantly. The reflector B may be mounted
upon a stud, and the plate of the stud passed through a slit in the dam A; or it
may have flexible points formed upon its mounting, to be passed through the dam A
and bent down upon the other side; or the reflector may be attached to the dam A
by some suitable adhesive material, or secured to it in any other convenient manner.
The stem of the stud to which the reflector B is attached may be made jointed, as
shown in Figure 5, so that the reflector may be adjusted at any required angle. The
reflector can be applied to a dental dam whether it be made with or without a
depression.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters
Patent is,-
First. A dental dam made by forming a depression a¹ in the body of a plate A of
rubber or other suitable material, substantially as herein shown and described.
Second. The combination of a reflector with the body of a dental dam whether
made with or without a depression, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
A. M. CLARK. (LS.)