IMPROVEMENTS IN DENTISTRY
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left. by Bernard Joseph Rubenstein at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his, Petition, on the
11th January 1859..
I, BERNARD JOSEPH RUBENSTEIN, late of Paris, and now of London, Dentist,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DENTISTRY,to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the application of certain known materials inta
-novel and useful manner to which they have to be adapted; and by the use of
which beneficial results are obtained; also to the application of certain
materials not heretofore used for the purpose; and the forming and working?
of them in a novel manner and into novel shapes, in connection with the.
making and fitting and the introduction, into the human mouth of artificial
teeth. It consists in the application of gold plates, not as heretofore used or
applied, but as base pieces beneath artificial gums' of hippopotam (or the tusk
of the seahorse) or ivory. By introducing gold plates or base pieces between
the natural surface and the artificial gum the softening action of the saliva
upon the artificial gum piece, which soon destroys it, is prevented, thus the
gold gives greater durability to the hippopotam, and it also prevents the gum
of the wearer being affected by the softening and injurious action of artificial
gum pieces as heretofore made. The teeth, whether mineral or natural, are
fastened or secured by means of rivets, the ends of which pass through holes
drilled and countersunk in the gold base, and the rivetting over secures them

page_text: whilst any projecting rivet head is removed, and the face of the gold base is
left smooth and capable of fitting accurately to the formation of the gum.
I employ tortoiseshell in certain cases as a substitute for metal plates of
various kinds and shapes used in connection with artificial teeth. I am
enabled to employ this material in the various constructions by moulding and
shaping and working with tools so as to produce accuracy of fit and perfect
contact between the artificial piece and the surfaces of the mouth. The
application of this material has the advantages that it presents a less harsh
surface in contact than metal when the gums or surfaces of the mouth are
tender, and it exceeds in durability hippopotam and such like material when
unprotected with the gold base as before described:
I employ in the construction of plates and for other such dental purposes
mother-of-pearl in place of gold or other metal basis or plates, or of hippopotam,
ivory, tortoiseshell, or other materials used in connection with artificial teeth.
I am enabled to employ this materials in consequence of the mode I adopt for
giving the necessary shape or conformation by the employment of grinding
and cutting tools, either rotating in a lathe or worked by hand, as I am thus
enabled to secure accuracy of fit, whatever the form of the part or position in
the mouth the piece is intended to occupy. In connection with the employ-
ment of mother-of-pearl as just described, I employ metal for forming the
bands or clasps, and where necessary for other parts of the construction.
The advantages which pertain to the employment of mother-of-pearl are,
that it remains unaffected by the greatest heat to which it can be subjected
whilst in use; the saliva will have no effect upon it; it will not discolour like
hippopotam, ivory, and other such materials, nor will it soften in the mouth;
it will not injuriously affect the gums of the wearer, but will maintain them in-
a healthier condition than where metal or other material is used.