The Mouth and the Teeth (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1879. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX. SUBSTITUTION ARTIFICIAL DENTURES. WHEN the natural teeth have been lost, the deficiency should be supplied by substitutes. The comfort, the health, the speech, and the personal appearance of the individual will be promoted thereby, provided that the substitution is skilfully and artistically accomplished. Those who have parted with some of their teeth are inclined to set a higher value on those which remain, and supplying the place of the missing ones is often the best means of preserving the rest -- preventing their elongation and irregularity. When the molars and bicuspids have been removed the front teeth are apt to project, presenting an unsightly appearance. This may to a great extent be prevented by supplying artificial masticating surfaces. There are various bases for artificial dentures -- gold, platinum, porcelain, silver, rubber, celluloid, etc. Which of these materials is the best in a given case depends upon a variety of circumstances -- the extent and character of the loss to be supplied, the age and physical characteristics of the patient, the condition of the mouth, the special qualifications of the dentist, and the length of the patient's purse. No one of the bases named is always the best; each of them has peculiar fitness for special cases. No authoritative opinion governing all cases can therefore be given. As a general rule, however, it may be affirmed that a gold base has more advantages and fewer disadvantages, certainly for partial sets, than any other material. The time most favorable for the insertion of artificial teeth is as soon after the loss of the natural ones as the state of the mouth will allow, and before.the muscles of expression have been suffered to lose their natural action. It is the modification which these mus...