® Teeth 
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THINGS TO BE THOUGHT OH 
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wpo WE?IF( T 
BY 
k P. 
MECHANICAL DENTIST. 
CHICAGO: 
KNIGUTA- LEONARD, PRINTERS. 
1878. artificial Teeth. 
THINGS TO BE THOUGHT OF BY 
THOSE WHO WEAR THEM. 
BY 
L. P. HASKELL, 
"""tiff 
CHICAGO: 
KNIGHT & LEONARD, PRINTERS. 
1878. ARTIFICIAL TEETH. 
ART IN DENTISTRY. 
Considering the great number of Artifi- 
cial Teeth now in use, it is surprising to 
what an extent Art is ignored in their con- 
struction. Dr. W. W. Allport, in a lecture 
before the Boston Academy of Dental Sci- 
ence, remarked upon this subject: 
" He who has but moderate ideas of sym- 
metry, harmony of expression and color is 
constantly pained by the lack of that artistic 
selection and arrangement of artificial teeth 
which serves to restore to the face the shape 
and expression left upon it by the Creator, 
the absence of which in artificial dentures 
stamps him who should be an artist, an <zr- 
tisan - a mere mechanic - a libeller of the 
soul-a de former of the human face divine. 
That mechanical dentistry should have very 6 
largely fallen into the hands of this inferior 
class of practitioners will hardly be won- 
dered at by those who have watched the 
history of this branch of the practice. For 
so simple are the modes of attaining toler- 
able mechanical results with the methods 
now usually employed in this department, 
that a high order of appropriate talent is, at 
the present time, seldom found devoting 
much time to it." 
Artificial Teeth are often detected by the 
practiced eye, without the patient opening 
the mouth, simply by the unnatural expres- 
sion resulting from badly arranged dent- 
ures. And when the mouth is opened, the 
effect is heightened by the presence of 
teeth selected and arranged without regard 
to the person's individuality. 
It is a marvel that persons of discrimi- 
nating taste and judgment in other matters 
should so often be content to endure such 
miserable apologies for teeth, involving, as 
they do, important relations to the features. 
In no other matters will persons submit to 
such impositions. 4 
Nothing that is worn upon the person is 
of so much importance to the personal ap- 
pearance as the set of Artificial Teeth, and 
requiring, for successful results, artistic and 
mechanical skill, patient labor and experi- 
ence. 
Remember, that a row of teeth arranged 
in a circle on a rubber plate are a poor 
apology for what nature once provided for 
you, and in order to realize all that is 
possible, other materials and methods, to- 
gether with skill and experience, are essen- 
tial requisites. 8 
INJURIOUS EFFECT OF VULCAN- 
IZED RUBBER. 
Among the objectionable features in the 
use of vulcanized rubber in the mouth, one 
of the most objectionable is the least re- 
ferred to, namely, the constant absorption of 
bony structure resulting therefrom. 
It cannot be that this effect is overlooked 
by dentists generally. Can it be that it is 
ignored for prudential reasons? Doubtless 
a majority of those who commenced prac- 
tice since the introduction of rubber are 
not sufficiently familiar with the use of 
metal plates to have noticed the difference 
in their effect. Nevertheless it is true that 
vulcanized rubber (and I think celluloid too) 
is producing incalculable injury to the mouths 
of those who wear it. 
Thirty-two years' experience, exclusively 
in mechanical dentistry, has given me 
ample opportunity to satisfy myself as to 
the correctness of this statement. The case 
is plain and can be readily understood by 9 
the patient, and instead of universal rec- 
ommendation of this material for perma- 
nent work, a statement of its nature should 
be made so that the patient can have a 
choice in the matter, and not be led to 
think that it is not only a good material, 
but really the best for artificial dentures. 
These vegetable bases are non-conductors 
of heat, and it is to the undue retention of 
heat in the mucous membrane, combined 
with pressure, that the absorbents are un- 
duly stimulated, resulting in a constant loss 
of bony tissue. Now for the proof of this 
assertion, 1 have never seen'a mouth where 
a rubber plate had been worn five years 
and upward but there was manifestly an 
undue absorption of bone. In the upper 
jaw, to such an extent, that often there is 
nothing left but a flabby ridge, and in the 
lower jaw very often a total disappearance 
of ridge, and sometimes a depression. 
I do not deny that sometimes there is un- 
due absorption when wearing metal plates, 
but those are the exceptions, and not the rule 
as in the other case, and arising generally 10 
from undue pressure, long continued at one 
point, or to some peculiar idiosyncrasy or 
constitutional taint. 
This fact was emphasized in my own 
mind more fully upon a recent visit to Bos- 
ton, where I saw various mouths wearing 
plates of gold and continuous-gum, which 
I made 22 to 24 years ago. In every in- 
stance, lower as well as upper, the gums 
showed little additional absorption, and 
were hard and healthy. 1 am constantly 
investigating mouths for the purpose of 
witnessing the relative effects of rubber and 
metal plates, and am more and more im- 
pressed with the great injury being done to 
mouths in this way. And it is really a 
serious matter to the individuals who are 
doomed to wear artificial teeth the rest of 
their lives, for they cannot fail to appreciate 
the fact that the better and more permanent 
the condition of the gums, the better will 
they be enabled to successfully and com- 
fortably use their teeth. And so, as I have 
said, let patients know the real facts.in the 
case, and then if they choose the cheap 
base, as it is, the worse is their own. 11 
"CONTINUOUS-GUM WORK." 
what it is. 
About thirty years ago, Ur. John Allen, 
of Cincinnati (now of New York), invented 
a method of inserting full sets of teeth, which 
then promised, and has since been proved, 
to be the most perfect method ever devised. 
It involved him in an expensive law-suit 
with Dr. Hunter, who claimed priority of in- 
vention. Dr. Allen, after securing his claim, 
gave the full benefits of it to the profession. 
It consists in covering a platinum plate 
with porcelain, in imitation of the natural 
gums and palate. 
The platinum plate (which is the purest 
metal that can be worn in the mouth, but is 
used for this purpose because it is the only 
metal that will stand the heat to which the 
work is subjected in baking the porcelain) 
is swedged in dies, and fitted to the mouth. 
The teeth are selected and arranged upon 
the plate, and fastened to it by a lining of 
the same metal. The surface of the plate is 12 
then covered with the porcelain material, 
which is baked at a high heat. Finally the 
enamel is put on, which, when baked, gives 
a perfect imitation of the gums and palate, 
to the minutest particular. This process, if 
carried through with care and artistic taste, 
produces a set of teeth which absolutely 
defies detection, and at the same time is the 
strongest and most durable work made, while 
it is the most cleanly, as there is no possible 
chance for the secretions of the mouth to 
lodge, which is true of no other work that is 
made. There are some mouths where it is 
absolutely impossible to obtain a natural 
appearance by any other means ; as, for in- 
stance, in all cases where the patient showed 
the natural gums as well as teeth ; the gums 
being very prominent, there is only room 
for the thinnest possible artificial gum, and 
it, too, should be without seams, which is 
only possible with this description of work, 
because it is continuous; and it is strong, 
however thin, because baked to the plate. 
There are two objections only urged 
against this work, namely, weight and expense 13 
As to the former, it is only necessary to say, 
that the weight of a set of teeth is realized 
only when the set loosens from lack of suction 
or other cause ; otherwise it is of no account. 
As to the question of expense, this objec- 
tion is often made by persons who, in other 
matters, dress, etc., will have only the best, 
regardless of expense. Certainly there is 
nothing worn upon the person of more con- 
sequence,'as to personal appearance, than 
the set of artificial teeth. And when this 
is taken into account, together with the 
durability and cleanliness of the work, noth- 
ing but absolute inability to pay for it should 
deter any one from choosing it in prefer- 
ence to all other methods. Question arises 
sometimes as to whether it can be repaired. 
The dentist who makes this work can repair 
it as successfully as any other style of work. 
Having used this method ever since its 
introduction by the profession, I can say 
that I have never been obliged to replace it 
with anything else in any case where I have 
used it. 1 have sets in wear at the present 
time that have been worn twenty-five years, 
and still doing service. 14 
WHAT THE PROFESSION THINK 
OF CONTINUOUS-GUM WORK. 
Prof. Taft, editor of the Cincinnati " Den- 
tal Register," says of this work, and he has 
used it in his own practice for many years : 
" We have often taken occasion, in the 
pages of the Register, to direct the atten- 
tion of its readers to continuous-gum artifi- 
cial dentures. It is a matter of regret that 
this, the most perfect method and style of 
constructing artificial sets of teeth, should 
receive so little attention, and be employed 
so seldom as it is. Perhaps not more than 
one dentist in fifty knows anything about 
making it, and some who have been taught 
the method of constructing it ignore it alto- 
gether in practice. 
" Now why is this? A very common an- 
swer is, 'Oh, it is too expensive.' 'There 
are dentures of other materials much cheap- 
er, so far as first cost is concerned, than 
continuous gum, but there is less differ- 
ence in the cost than in the value. 15 
" In the difference in the expense does 
not, however, lie the main difficulty. This 
consists chiefly in the fact that so few under- 
stand anything about it, even as to its value, 
and much less about the mode of construct- 
ing it. 
" The great majority of dentists represent 
to their patients that a plate of rubber with 
fourteen teeth set in a half circle is just as 
good as anything else for a denture. Some 
make such representations knowing them to 
be false-; others make them under gross 
ignorance. 
" The responsibility for this condition of 
things rests upon the profession. A great 
many persons accept these miserable apol- 
ogies for dentures as a last resort, knowing 
that there are far better things. Then again 
there are a great many who are ignorant of 
what is best, but desire to be informed and 
advised, and are always ready to acquiesce 
in the judgment and advice of those whom 
they regard as capable and honest. 
" Then again, as evidence that the people 
are not wholly, nor even to any considera- 16 
ble extent, responsible in this matter, is the 
fact that a few men there are who use large- 
ly, and some exclusively, the best class of 
artificial dentures - continuous-gum and 
gold-plate work - and some of these, we 
know, are not situated among people differ- 
ent from those of communities generally. 
" We will use for illustration Dr. Haskell, 
of Chicago, who confines himself almost ex- 
clusively to the production of the very best 
class of work, and his patients accept that 
more readily than they would the. inferior 
and pernicious kinds of dentures in common 
use, and they appreciate it far more highly, 
and he has a far higher sense of satisfaction 
and gratification than he could have with 
any of the inferior things that are in such 
general use. And what is true with Dr. H. 
in this respeot would be true of any one else 
who would pursue the same course." 17 
WHAT ARE THE BEST MATERI- 
ALS FOR PLATES FOR ARTIFI- 
CIAL TEETH. 
Tn a foregoing article I have described 
" Continuous-Gum Work." This I consider 
advisable only in full upper and lower, and 
some cases of partial lower sets. 
For partial sets gold is the very best ma- 
terial that can be used. Pure silver, alloyed 
with platinum, is the next best; and for 
cheaper work, " celluloid," which is prefer- 
able to rubber, especially on account of its 
color, and for use in full sets because the 
plain teeth can be used, whereby a more 
natural expression is secured in the arrange- 
ment of the teeth. 
To be sure the introduction of vulcan- 
ized rubber, as a base for artificial teeth, 
has enabled many people to obtain artificial 
teeth, who would otherwise have been de- 
prived of them. At the same time, the 
modus operandi of the work is so simple, it 
has enabled a multitude of quacks to set up 18 
in business, who have not the remotest idea 
of how a set of teeth should look in the 
mouth, and the result is we meet, at every 
turn, people whose mouths are a constant 
reminder of rubber plates and "cheap 
dentistry." 
Then, again, while it is an easy matter to 
obtain a " suction," or adhesion of the plate 
to the palate, with vulcanized rubber, yet 
the insertion of teeth upon a rubber plate, 
in many mouths, is impossible without pro- 
ducing a monstrosity in appearance. 19 
PREPARING THE MOUTH, AND 
TEMPORARY WORK. 
To save all the natural teeth is the province 
and should be the aim of the dentist. But 
to this rule, as to all others, there are excep- 
tions. Patients sometimes insist upon re- 
taining a few natural teeth, so located that 
they are not only useless, but are in the way 
of something better,-in fact, interfere with 
the usefulness of the artificial teeth that they 
must wear, fn such cases it is better to defer 
to the judgment and experience of the den- 
tist whose advice you have asked. 
Where there have been many teeth ex- 
tracted, the mouth is seldom in a permanent 
condition under a year, and sometimes 
longer, as the absorption of bone is a slow 
process. In the meantime, the patient does 
not wish to be without teeth, so what is 
known as fhe " temporary " set is had. As 
a rule, they may as well be inserted within 
forty-eight hours, for the patient suffers less 
from soreness of the gums than when it is 20 
delayed ; and if the remains of the front 
teeth are extracted atone time, the necks of 
the new teeth should be inserted in the 
sockets of the natural ones, presenting a 
more natural appearance than otherwise, as 
there will not be room for an artificial gum 
for many months, and possibly only for a 
very thin one at the end of a year. 
Wearing temporary teeth too long often 
results in permanent injury to the gums, es- 
pecially in case rubber plates are worn. 
They should in no case be worn more than 
two years. 21 
WHAT MAY BE EXPECTED OF 
ARTIFICIAL TEETH. 
Says Mrs. A, " There is Mrs. B has a set 
of teeth that she can do anything with, and 
she never has the least trouble with them ; 
why can't I have the same success with 
mine ? " 
Simply because you have not Mrs. B's 
mouth ! There is just as much difference 
in the shape and condition of mouths as in 
the face. There is the flat and the deep pal- 
ate, the hard and the soft palate, the broad 
and the narrow ridge. The relative position 
of the two jaws has much to do with the 
usefulness of artificial teeth, especially if a 
portion of the natural teeth are remaining. 
Lower sets are more troublesome than 
upper, and the mucous membrane of the 
lower jaw is apt to be more sensitive, es- 
pecially when the ridge is very thin, or 
where it has nearly disappeared from undue 
absorption of the bone. In such cases 
changes are necessary in the plate from 22 
time to time, until the gums adapt them- 
selves to the plate in a measure. 
In partial sets, plates with only front 
teeth, are always more difficult to use than 
those with side teeth, unless in case clasps 
are worn. 
But always bear in mind it does not fol- 
low that because your neighbor's teeth are 
a complete success in all respects, yours 
must necessarily be equally so. In your 
case more time and patience may be re- 
quired to become accustomed to them. 
Where the patients say "they forget they 
have artificial teeth," they are the excep- 
tions to the general rule. 
There are no cases, however, where a set, 
or part of a set, of artificial teeth may not be 
worn with comfort and a good degree of 
usefulness. 23 
SAVE THE NATURAL TEETH. 
It is not uncommon to hear persons say, 
" I am going to let my teeth go, and one 
of these days have them extracted and 
have a set of artificial teeth." A very 
foolish decision, for although the artificial 
ones may serve a very good purpose they 
will never, under any circumstances, take 
the place of the natural ones. But in 
order to save your teeth be sure you em- 
ploy a dentist who is thoroughly qualified 
to do it, for there is no profession so 
overrun with quacks as the dental. 
In dentistry, as in the other arts, a di- 
vision of work is of the highest impor- 
tance. No one can do equally well in the 
operative and mechanical departments, 
alternating from one to the other. In 
fact, in these days of rubber and cheap 
dentistry, the most of the artificial work 
is left to the student or other employe, 
so as to enable the dentist to give his 24 
undivided attention to the operative de- 
partment. 
As the profession are now returning to 
the use of metal plates, and a higher 
order of artificial dentures, some of our 
dental colleges are considering whether it 
is not better to educate students to prac- 
tice but one branch of the art, and so be- 
come the more proficient in their calling. E. H. Sargent & Co. 
DRUGGISTS, 
125 State Street. Chicago. 
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