Improvements in the Art of Dentistry.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Art of Dentistry.
1, JOSEPH WASHINGTON CLOWES, of 667, Fifth Avenue, in the City, County,
and State of New York, United States of America, Doctor of Dental Surgery,
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 consists in fillings inserted in cavities in approximate faces of
contiguous teeth, said fillings being formed of a single body of material connecting
the teeth so that they mutually support each other. It also consists in fillings of
plastic material inserted in cavities in approximate faces of the teeth and extending
between and across the teeth and down upon and closely contacting with the gums,
all as will be hereinafter more fully described.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a perspective interior view of a superior maxilla, shewing teeth
prepared, according to my improvement, for receiving the plastic material of which
the fillings are formed.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a superior maxilla, shewing teeth with my
improvement applied.
Figure 3 is an exterior view of a section of the superior maxilla, shewing teeth
with my improvement applied.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of three continuous teeth having large cavities
and provided with my improvement.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of one side of the maxilla, shewing the form
of the teeth cavities and the position of the anchors or supports in the cavities.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the artificial teeth and fillings, formed
integrally of one body of material.
Figure 7 is a section of the maxilla, shewing in perspective the cavity of a
decayed natural tooth, prepared for filling, in connection with a cable and stay plate
reaching to the next adjacent tooth; and
Figure 8 shews the same parts after the plastic filling has been inserted.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
In describing my invention, I will, first, refer to a case of connected fillings in
approximate faces of two contiguous teeth; I will, then, describe a series of con-
nected fillings; and, afterwards, a case in which two artificial molar teeth are
supported by and formed integrally with the fillings of two natural teeth; but I do
not confine my invention to these particular cases, as it may be modified as circum-
stances may require. The plastic material which I have so far found to be best
adapted for the purpose of my invention is the ordinary dental amalgam; but I do
not limit myself to this material, as any other plastic material may be used which
sufficiently hardens and solidifies after it is put in place.
The cavities ab in the contiguous teeth A B are excavated, and prepared for
receiving fillings in the usual way with undercuts and anchorages to ensure a firm
hold of the filling in the teeth and plastic material O, such as amalgam, is inserted
in the teeth so as to fill the cavities and the space between the teeth which amalgam
is also moulded upon the surface of the gum X between the teeth so as to press
firmly thereon between the teeth and the plastic material of the filling is shaped to
conform to the natural contour of the teeth but without actual division of the filling
material between the teeth, the filling when completed appearing as shewn in
Figure 2. When the material of the filling solidifies and hardens, the teeth A
and B will be rigidly connected and locked together so that they cannot spread
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page_text: apart and the filling will be in close contact with the gums and will completely close
the space between the teeth so that food cannot enter between the teeth or between
the filling and the gum. By this method of locking the teeth t gether by means
of the plastic filling, if, before treatment, one of the teeth should be loose, as is
frequently the case, it becomes locked to the tooth and is held firmly in its proper
place. In some cases, as an additional means of locking the teeth together and
preventing the teeth from spreading apart, the floor of the cavity of each tooth is
drilled and in the drill holes are inserted the hooks of the ends of a bar C of
platinum wire formed with a hook at each end, the portion of the said bar between
the hooks being arranged to stand slightly above the floor of the cavity so that the
plastic material of the filling may be pressed upon and around the bar, thus holding
it rigidly in its place in the teeth. In other respects, the filling is made and
finished as before described.
In the example of three adjoining decayed teeth D, E, F, which it is desired to
fill and lock firmly together, the cavities are excavated in the form of grooves
extending through the teeth and the cavities are prepared in the usual manner, as
shewn in Figure 1, and the filling O is inserted so as to close the cavities and
conform to the contour of the natural teeth and the material of the filling is, as
before described, moulded firmly upon the gum X between the teeth and is made
to close the spaces between the teeth and form a body of the filling material which
extends continuously through the three teeth and along and upon the gum between
the teeth, as shewn in Figures 2 and 4, thus locking the teeth firmly together. For
the further strengthening of the teeth, and to further assist in locking them
together, a hooked bar C, Figure 1, similar to that already described but longer to
adapt it to a greater number of teeth, is inserted in the outer teeth of the series
and the filling is pressed upon and around the bar, as in the other case, which
thus becomes enclosed within the filling and adds strength thereto, as before
described.
In
Where the natural teeth are absent between two decayed teeth G, H, having
cavities c d in adjacent faces, the said cavities are prepared for receiving plastic
fillings in the usual way and the fillings are inserted and the body of plastic
material of which the fillings are formed is extended in one body across the space
between the two teeth and moulded and firmly pressed upon the face of the gum
connecting the two teeth, as shewn in Figures 2 and 3, and forming a rigid body of
material which, in addition to its use as a support and connection for the teeth, may
be used for the purpose of mastication and this body of material may be moulded
or carved in imitation of natural teeth; this body of material is firmly locked
to the teeth G H and forms not a bridge but a causeway between said teeth.
forming the fillings care is taken to mould them firmly upon the gums so as to form
a perfect contact therewith. The gum is thus made partly to support and carry
the prolongations of the fillings of the teeth, while the close contact of the teeth
with the gum and the naturally elastic or expansive quality of the gum operates to
exclude and expel particles of food or deleterious matter from between the gums
and the plastic fillings that are kept in contact with the gums. As an additional
means of strengthening the lock between the teeth G, H, and as a further support
to the filling, the floors of the cavities c d are drilled to receive the hooked ends of
the bar C of platinum wire, as shown in Figures 1 and 5, and to increase the hold
of the plastic material upon the bar C the said bar is provided with lateral spurs e
which are secured in place by soldering or rivetting, and upon and around the
bar C² with its spurs e the plastic material forming fillings is pressed and moulded
so as to enclose the bar within the filling, as before described. In the perspective
view, Figure 2, is shewn the appearance inside of the maxilla of the completed
plastic filling between the natural teeth G, H, and also the appearance of the com-
pleted prolonged filling or causeway which is formed upon the gums. In Figure 3,
the exterior section of the maxilla, shewing the same parts, is presented.
In the example shewn in Figure 7, K represents a decayed and loosened natural
tooth excavated and prepared for filling, with a strengthening stay L applied

page_text: thereto. This stay L consists of a hooked bar, the hook of which is inserted in the
bottom of the cavity in the loose tooth K, in the manner before described. The
opposite end of the stay L is provided with a crescent-shaped head fitted against
the adjacent tooth M (supposed to be a firm natural tooth) with intent to prevent
forward and lateral motion of the ailing tooth. As in Figure 8, the filling of plastic
material O is now applied to the tooth K and carried down into the space between
the teeth K, M, and moulded upon the gum thereof, as before described, and built
up between the teeth K, M, and made to enclose the bar of the stay L and hold it
firmly in place against the tooth M. In this manner the firm tooth M, without
being bored or cut, is made to support and hold in place the loosened tooth K.
In discovering the peculiar use and application of amalgam, as herein set forth,
a grand stride has been made in dental science. That any foreign substance could
be pressed and immovably fixed, without irritation, upon so delicate a tissue as the
human gum has heretofore been considered impossible and unworthy of professional
consideration, but thorough and long continued tests have proved the practice to be
highly beneficent and preservative.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. That improvement in the art of dentistry which consists in combining with
the teeth suitable plastic fillings which are extended between the teeth and are
moulded upon the gums, substantially as herein shewn and described.
2. The combination, with connected plastic fillings inserted in two or more teeth,
of a strengthening bar inserted in the teeth and enclosed in the plastic filling,
substantially as specified.
3. The combination, with fillings inserted in adjacent teeth, of a connective
body of plastic material formed integrally with the fillings, substantially as
specified.
4. The combination, with fillings inserted in cavities in adjacent teeth, of a
connective body of plastic material formed integrally with the fillings moulded upon
the gums and carved in imitation of teeth, substantially as specified.
5. The combination, with the fillings and connective body of plastic material
formed integrally in one body of material, of a strengthening bar inserted in natural
teeth and enclosed in the connective body of material and the fillings, substantially
as specified.
6. A multiple filling anchored in two or more natural teeth and made integrally
of one body of plastic material, the said filling forming a rigid connection between
the teeth for preventing them from approaching each other or spreading, substantially
as specified.
Dated this 17th day of February 1891
JOSEPH WASHINGTON CLOWES.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.