IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH AND GUMS
Year: 1853

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to George Laurie, of New York, in the. United
States of America, Dentist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH AND GUMS."-A commu-
nication from John Allen, of. Cincinnati, in America aforesaid,.
*Dentist.
Sealed the 7th December 1853, and dated the 15th October 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Laurie at
..the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th October 1853.
I, GEORGE LAURIE, of New York, in the United States of America,
Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL. TEETH AND GUMS."
'to be as follows:-
I construct my plates and arrange the teeth thereon in the usual
manner: Irim my plates on the outer margin, and also within that
portion of the plate which covers the alveolar ridge near the base of the
teeth to secure more effectually the compound and give strength- and
'finish to the denture. After the teeth are properly arranged upon the

page_text: plate and wax I cover them with a mixture of plaster of Paris, two
parts; sand, one part; asbestos, one part; well mixed, and water added
to make it of the proper consistence for covering the teeth in the usual
way. The teeth being thus covered, the wax is removed from the
inside, and the linings or fastenings arranged upon them; they are then
soldered to the teeth with platina solder or pure gold; after which the
plaster and asbestos covering is removed.
I now place the denture in the mouth of the patient, and place wax
or any other convenient substance, ou the outside of the plate and teeth
of sufficient thickness and proper form to bring out the muscles of the
face to their original degree of rotundity. From the wax or other
model thus formed, upon which the muscles of the face rest, a metallic
framework is constructed-corresponding;-this-frame or bulb is then
soldered to the plate and united to the teeth by covering i
the siliceous compound with which form my artificial continuous
gums.
A to en
it with
The compound I prefer is prepared in the following manner Silex,
four ounces; borax, two ounces; felspar, one ounce, kaolin clay, one
ounce; asbestos, two drachms; caustic potash, two drachms, mix these
ingredients; reducing them to a fine powder, and fuse in a crucible;
pulverize this material, and add the same weight of pulverized Wedge-
wood, Parian marble, or porcelain tooth body; to every seven ounces
of this mixture add one ounce of fine-French-clock shade (or other)
glass; reduce the whole to an impalpable powder, and it will be ready
for use.
I mix the compound: with sufficient water to bring it..to a plastic
state, then insert,it between and around, the bases of the teeth, so as to
form a continuous gum, and, also upon the bulb.or. framework before
mentioned, intermixing platina shreds, wire, or gauze to combine the
toughness of the metal with the mineral; I also solder platina scraps,
strips; shreds, or wire to the plate about the base of the teeth to secure
a firm adhesion of the compound to the plate, when fused, thus formi
a metallic union between the teeth, gum; and plate...
23 est
The gum. colored enamel is made. like that usually, employed; on
block work, with the addition of sufficient flux to cause it to flow at a

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Laurie in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the, 13th, April 1854.
די!
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
GEORGE LAURIE, of, New York, in the United States of America,
Dentist, send-greeting.
1
WHEREAS Her 'most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her:
Letters Patent; bearing date the Fifteenth, days of October, in the year.
of our Lord. One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-,
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me; the said George Laurie, Her special licence.
that I, the said George Laurie, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said George Laurie, my executors, administrators.
and "assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time,
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,.
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFAC
TURE OF ARTIFICIAL TEETH AND GUMS," a communication from John
Allen, of Cincinnati,, in America aforesaid, Dentist, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said George Laurie, by an instrument in:
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly.describe and ascer-
tain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner; the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great: Seal:
Patent Office within six calendar months' next and immediately after.
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that T, the said, George. Laurie; do hereby declare
the nature of the said 'Invention; and in what manner the same is 'to

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof (that is to say):
I construct my plates and arrange the teeth thereon in the usual
manner. I rim. my plates on the outer margin, and also within that
portion of the plate which covers the alveolar ridge near the base of
the teeth to. secure more effectually the compound and give strength
and finish to the denture.. After the teeth are properly arranged upon
the plate and wax I cover them with a mixture of plaster of Paris, two
parts; sand, one part; asbestos, one part; well mixed, and water added
to make it of the proper consistence for covering the teeth in the usual
way. The teeth being thus covered; the wax is removed from the
inside and the linings or fastenings arranged upon them; they are then
soldered to the teeth with solder or pure gold; after which the plaster
and asbestos covering is removed. I now place the denture in the mouth
of the patient, and place wax or any other convenient substance on the
outside of the plate and teeth of sufficient thickness and proper form to
bring out the muscles of the face to their original degree of rotundity.
From the wax or other model thus formed, upon which the muscles,
of the face rest, a metallic frame work is constructed corresponding; this
frame or bulb is then soldered to the plate and united to the teeth by
covering it with the silicious compound with which I form my artificial
continuous gums. The compound I prefer is prepared in the following
manner-Silex, four ounces; borax, two ounces; felspar, one ounce;
kaolin clay, one ounce; asbestos, two drachms; caustic potash, two
drachms; mix these ingredients, reducing them to a fine powder, and
fuse in a crucible; pulverize this material, and add the same weight of
pulverized Wedgewood, Parian marble, or porcelain tooth body; to every
seven ounces of this mixture add one ounce of fine French clock shade
or other glass; reduce the whole to an impalpable powder, and it will
be ready for use. I mix the compound with sufficient water to bring
it to a plastic state, then insert it between and round the bases of the
teeth, so as to form a continuous gum, and also upon the bulb or
framework before mentioned, intermixing platina shreds, wire, or
gauze.to combine the toughness of the metal with the mineral... I also
solder platina scraps; strips, shreds, or wire to the plate about the base

page_text: of the teeth to secure a firm adhesion of the compound (to the plate)
when fused, thus forming a metallic union between the teeth, gum, and
plate. The gum colored enamel is made like that usually employed
on block work, with the addition of sufficient flux.to cause it to flow. at
a lower heat, say 3.200. Fahrenheit. The compound being applied as
above, and fused in the muffle of a furnace; is then withdrawn and
cooled slowly. The gum or flesh colored enamel is applied and fused
in the same way.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed
to describe the manner of performing the same.
"The first part of. the Invention consists of using asbestos in conibi-
nation with sand and plaster of Paris, in place of plaster of Paris and
sand alone, when covering tlie teeth, after 'they have been set in wax on
a metal. plate. The addition of asbestos materially improves the com-
pound, and when subjected to heat. with a view to melt the solder. to fix
the teeth to the metal plate, will retain its form and tend to prevent
the plate getting out of its correct figure. The manner of use of the
composition containing asbestos is the same as that heretofore practised
when using plaster of Paris and sand without the asbestos, and will not
therefore require further description.
The second part of the Invention consists of obtaining or forniing
the gums or parts of gums in combination with the use of a metal plate
with teeth affixed thereto; such gums according to the Invention being
composed of a vitreous compound above described, to which compound
I make no claim separately. In carrying out this part of my Invention
a metal plate is to be formed as heretofore, and the artificial teeth
are to be fixed thereto, as has heretofore been practised, whether by the
mode above described, or by soldering pins to the plate and fixing
tube teeth thereon; to neither of which modes of fixing artificial teeth
to a metal plate, nor to the making of the plate itself, do I make any
claim. The artificial teeth I use are what are called mineral teeth,
but whatever teeth be used for the purposes of this Invention, they
require to be such as will bear a heat sufficiently above that at which
the composition for making the gums will flux and run at to insure
their not being injured by the heat applied in producing the gums on

page_text: the plate, and teeth. As plate and teeth::having: been made and com-
bined, as above, explained, this part of my Invention consists of forming
gums on the plate, and at and around. the roots or lower parts of the
teeth, where: they are fixed to the plate by using by preference the
vitreous compound above described; this forming of the gums is.readily
performed by the hands with modelling tools; and having formed the
gunis witli the plastic matter it is allowed to dry and to set, and then
is subjected to heat, so that the vitreous enamel will adhere to the
metal: plate and to the lower parts of the teeth; and will form artificial
gums thereto of a very cleanly description. In-applying heat care is
to be taken that the raising and also the lowering the temperature be
done gradually. The vitreous compound above, mentioned may be
varied; but I believe that which is above given to be the best for the
purpose; and the same will have coloring matters.mixed. therewith: as
similar vitreous compounds: heretofore have had when used in making
mineral blocks sojnetimes called gum teeth; wherein. metal plates; and
artificial teeth are not: combined...
Having thus described. the. nature of the said Invention, and the
amanner of performing the same, I would have it understood that what
I claim is, first, the use of asbestos, as herein described; and, secondly,
I claim the forming of artificial gums to artificial teeth. fixed to a metal
plate.
$
In witness whereof, I; the said George Laurie, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
GEORGE LAURIE (L.S.)