Improvements in Artificial Tooth Sections and in the Method of Attaching the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Artificial Tooth Sections and in the Method of
Attaching the same.
I, CHARLES HENRY LAND of 271, Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, United
States of America, Dentist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:―
My invention relates to certain improvements in "artificial dentures," having in
view a novel article of manufacture and a novel process of applying the same, all as
more fully hereinafter described and claimed and more particularly illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing a defective tooth.
Figure 2 is a similar view of a tooth repaired.
Figure 3 is a separate view of my improved section showing the biscuit surface.
Figure 4 is a modification where a crown is applied to the tooth.
Figure 5 is a view of the matrix.
Figure 6 is a separate view of a section having a metal surface.
Figure 7 shows a crown with a metal surface.
Figure 8 is a modification.
Figure 9 shows a veneer built up with porcelain body.
Figure 10 shows a section having a porous face.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 illustrate modifications.
Figure 14 shows a gum section united to a base.
It is well known that the compound commonly called amalgain, being a composite
of mercury and other metals, has a peculiar affinity for gold and silver, and readily
unites therewith. Amalgam is therefore a desirable means for attaching a section or
plug to a tooth.
carry out my invention as follows:-
A, represents a tooth cavity or lost portion of a tooth to be filled or built up as the
case may be. The tooth being properly prepared in the usual manner, I burnish or
swage thereupon a piece of platinum foil, to form a matrix or mould. The foil may
be conformed either to a cavity or to the surface of a decayed or defective tooth, anil
either for the formation of a filling section, or a crown or partial crown, or any other
desired tooth section.
By the aid of this matrix, I form a tooth section of desired form and of any
desired material. Thus, for example, I may mould, upon sail matrix or there-
into, porcelain body or paste, which, when fused, shall constitute the desired
section. I would have it distinctly understood, however, that I do not herein limit
myself to any specific material solely, in the construction of said tooth sections, as my
vitreous or other suitable substance, as porcelain, glass, metal and anything else found
suited to the purpose may be employed within the scope of my invention. Accordingly,
B denotes the matrix, and C an artificial tooth section of any required form and
material. Upon the sections so constructed, I fuse a coating of gold, as at D.
In order to make the gold adhere to the tooth section, my invention contemplates,
as one of its features, a more definite construction also of said section, although I dɔ
not limit myself exclusively thereto.
Instead of building up the entire artificial tooth section from the matrix as a mould
by the use of plastic or molten material, I design, wherever desired, to select a suitable
artificial veneer which may constitute a crown, a partial crown or other section.
A lining of porcelain body may then be employed to conform the veneer to the matrix,
said body being applied between the veneer and the matrix and fused upon the
veneer. The veneer.. will ordinarily have a glazed surface, upon which a conting
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page_text: of gold is not so readily attached, but it will be evident that the porcelain bɔdy
fused thereto will be when completed in the nature of what is called a
"biscuit,"
and of a more porous nature than the glazed portion, and upon this unglazed
surface, the gold may be very readily fused. Accordingly, as illustrated more
particulary in Figure 9, C denotes such a veneer.
C, the coating or lining of porcelain body or paste fused thereupon, and upon
which, as at D, the gold is fused.
So also, instead of selecting a veneer of any desired form, the tooth section may be
built up
in a desired manner and of desired form, the same being fused and glazed to
constitute the tooth section, after which a suitable coating of the porcelain paste C³
may be applied to the required surface, the section being again subjected to the
furnace to fuse the applied, coating of paste to a biscuit, the gold being thereafter
desired
fused thereupon. The gold may, however, be applied to the section in any
manner.
An artificial section, having gold fused thereupon, may constitute an article of
manufacture, and be furnished to dentists of any required form suited for all.
varieties of needs, as fillings, crowns, partial crowns and the like, ready for use,
or which may be readily adapted for use as occasion arises. A section so müde is
applied to the tooth by means of amalgam, which will, as already described, readily
unite with the gold and firmly and securely hold the section in place.
By this means, the use of ordinary cements is avoided, and which, owing to the well
known liability of said cements being dissolved and washed out by the action of the
fluids of the mouth, becomes a matter of greatest importance, as the amalgam is not
exposed to any such liability, but is durable and permanent.
The amalgam union is indicated at E.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that a solution of gold worked into and over a
porous surface, as described, would become more thoroughly united therewith, than if
the tooth section had simply a glazed surface, adding, in a large measure, a mechanical
attachment. Any vitreous substance may readily be so used in the formation of a
tooth section by providing the same with a "biscuited" surface. I have discovered
that a gold solution such as is used in the ordinary decoration of china ware will
a there in a measure to glazed surfaces, as of glass, for example. However, my
improvements go still further by adding, preferably to the glazed surface, a semi-
vitreous or biscuit surface, or technically speaking, a porous surface, as is well known
in the usual biscuit ware turned out by porcelain manufacturers, thereby providing a
more complete method of attaching the metal.
I would have it understood that in many cases the tooth cavity or lost portion may
be built up as desired with amalgam before uniting the tooth section thereto.
So, also, the tooth section constructed with a porcelain exterior and metal facing
may be further itself built up to larger proportions, or further faced by amalgam before
application to the tooth, the amalgam to be further used to set the tooth section in
place, uniting with the amalgam face of the tooth section in this instance in like
manner as already described.
So, also, a solid section or plug of gold with amalgam attached may be used, or a
gold post D attached to the section or analogous attaching device may have amalgam
united, therewith or be inited thereby.
A metal pin or analogous device may likewise in the same manner be amalgamated
mpoy a tooth section, or the fastening be so amalgamated into a root of a tooth.
Fastenings of gold, silver, copper or aluminium bronze, or any suitable metal may be
employed.
Being able to dispense with heat, metals of lower grades, which are very much
cheaper, may be employed, and which, in many instances, are very much stronger.
Where a metal has an affinity for amalgam, no further préparation thereof is
required in order to effect an amalgam union of the same in place. Where the metal
employed for the fastening has not an affinity for amalgam, it may be coated
with gold.
Instead of coating the tooth sections with gold, however, they may be coated with

page_text: in or any other metal having an affinity for amalgam. What are known as "inlays,"
cavity stoppers," crowns, vencers or facings, including cusp crowns or partial
crowns, may thus be put upon the market as articles of manufacture having one or
more of their surfaces coated with metal ready to be amalgamated into place.
So, also, gum sections in like manner may be united to a plate with amalgam,
in place of using the customary pins, and I would have it understood that I
contemplate guin sections in the use of the term tooth section in the following claims.
So, also, a tooth section provided with a gold or metal surface as an article of mana-
facture might be fastened in place, otherwise than by the use of amalgam, without
departing from the scope of my invention so far as the section as an article of
manufacture is concerned, as, for instance, a gum section so coated would be useful
as follows:-
A cast metal base could be fitted to the mouth and then the gum sections soldered
to the base with a low grade of solder such as is reduced to a lower fusing point by
means of bismuth. So, also, the gum section with a gold or other suitable metal coat
could be amalgamated to this same class of metallic base. These bases are known in
the market as Watt's metal, and various other titles, or such a section might be
amalgamated upon a gold base, such a construction is shown in Figure 14, wherein C
is a gum section, and F is a metal base.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. As an article of manufacture, an artificial tooth section, having a metallic surface
applied in solution on the proximal surface of the said section and fused thereto, said
metallic surface constituting a means for attaching said section, substantially as and in
the manner described.
2. As an article of manufacture, an artificial tooth section provided with a porous or
"biscuit" surface, substantially as described.
3. As an article of manufacture, an artificial tooth section having a porous or
"biscuit" surface provided with metal united with said surface, substantially as
described.
4. As an article of manufacture, an artificial tooth section provided with a surface of
metal and having amalgam united with said metal surface, substantially as described.
5. The process herein described of applying an artificial tooth section to a base,
consisting of coating the proximal surface of said section with metal, and uniting the
section to the base by means of amalgam, substantially as described.
6. The process herein described of restoring defective teeth, consisting of, first,
securing an impression of the surface of the tooth portion to be restored by means of
a thin sheet of metal fitted upon said surface to form a matrix or mould, second,
causing the tooth section to conform to said mould and hardening said section, third,
uniting said section to the tooth by means of amalgam, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of July 1800
WM. F. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.