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BY J. TAFT, of Xenia, O. CRYSTAL GOLD FOR FILLING TEETH. 
J. Taft, Xenia, Ohio. 
[Reprinted from the Dental Register, for January, 1854.] 
Each and every profession, and pursuit in life, has its grand 
and fundamental points ; or, that which in intrinsic value, or 
superior skill, requsite for its execution, occupies a place above. 
those things with which it is associated. Such a position 
does the preservation of the natural teeth, occupy in dental 
science. 
The best means for the preservation of the natural teeth in 
a state of perfect health, is a matter of vital importance; yet 
when decay has attacked the teeth, the question of their pre- 
servation, or restoration, if I may be allowed the term, be- 
comes one of greater solicitude, and more urgent consideration. 
All are familiar with the ordinary method of arresting the 
decay of the teeth. Conceding the point, that almost the 
entire causes of decay of the teeth are external. The method 
of procedure is to remove those things that excite and pro- 
mote decay; remove all decomposed portions of the teeth; 
give the cavity a proper form, and then fill it with the material 
deemed best in the case. That material almost universally 
acknowledged to be the best, is gold. Best, because it is less 
corruptable than anything else of equal adaptation, with which 
we are as yet acquainted. Its contrast with the teeth, in color, 
is but a slight objection; It forms, when perfectly applied, a 
complete protection to the decayed cavity, excluding the 2 
entrance of all external agents, heat excepted. It is dense 
enough to be used even in the grinding surfaces of the molar 
teeth, for a great number of years. Though gold is the best 
material yet known for filling teeth, yet, its fitness may be 
much modified by the mode of its preparation. The deside- 
ratum is the best form of the best material. Gold has 
hitherto used for filling teeth, almost exclusively in the 
form of foil, and even the quality of this is exceedingly va- 
riable. 
There are some difficulties, however, that seem necessarily 
connected with the use of gold in this form. The surface of 
the leaves are almost as smooth as if they were separately 
planished, and hence have no facility for welding or uniting 
together, so that two leaves being pressed together, only remain 
so because they are thus retained by the force about them. 
Foil that has been perfectly annealed after being hammered, 
when brought in contact under great pressure, may adhere 
slightly. This inability to unite, constitutes one of the strong- 
est objections to the use of foil. The practice of introducing 
foil fillings in blocks, counteracts this difficulty as nearly as 
it is possible. Yet, fillings when thus put in, will sometimes 
lose small portions, and when a filling begins to yield, it is 
very soon lost; "failing by piece-meal; " " coming out in 
fragments ; " " tumbling to pieces; " &c., are remarks fami- 
ilar to the ear of every dentist. A few fortunate individuals 
there are however, who never have such things happen in their 
practice, because theyhave a peculiar method of their own for 
performing this operation. Of course their own method is so 
much better than that of any one else-always succeeding 
most perfectlyin every operation, just because it is done in their 
way. It is true, that from five to twenty per cent of all the 
teeth filled by reputable dentists, are not successful in the first 
operation. And why? Sometimes because the filling was not 
consolidated, or because the cavity was not properly formed 
to retain a filling that presented a smooth surface to its hard 
smooth walls, and although it was consolidated perfectly as 3 
possible,gave way either in a mass, or as is frequently the case, 
in pieces. In regard to this point, facts will warrant the as- 
sertion, that nine-tenths of the fillings that'give way, come out 
in pieces; not because they were not consolidated, but because 
they were not, and could not be united together into a solid 
mass. Let us imagine how greatly the probabilities of suc- 
cess would be increased, could we obtain some method of 
untiting the leaves of foil, that compose a filling, into a solid 
mass, that could not be separated even when removed from 
the cavity; then success would be far more certain, notwith- 
standing the smooth surface of the foil is presented to the 
walls of the cavity. The best foil fillings that are put in by 
the most superior operators, when removed from the cavities, 
can be torn to pieces by very slight efforts, and a great many 
even fall to pieces before they come out of the cavities. 
Cases occasionally occur, in which the teeth have such a 
tendency to decay, that the most perfect operations present but 
a feeble resistance to its progress ; " never failing dentists " to 
the contrary notwithstaning. 
Gold in a Crystalized form has recently been introduced, 
and thus far seems to warrant the conclusion, that in many 
respects it is superior to foil. This preparation is pure, an- 
nealed, Gold Crystals. The method of its preparation pre- 
cludes the possibility of its containing any alloy. The follow- 
ing brief remarks will be devoted to an examination of this 
preparation. Being a mass of crystals, under the hammer, or in 
the rolling mill, its particles unite together and it becomes a 
solid plate. When two or more pieces are pressed together, 
they unite so that they cannot be separated. The crystals of 
one part pass between, interlace, and unite perfectly, with 
those of another; and successive pieces may thus be made to 
unite to the mass till it is of any desired size. 
The fitness of this preparation of gold, for filling teeth, is 
quite apparent when we consider all its properties. It is of 
such a consistence, that it can, by compression be perfectly 
adapted to a cavity of any form. The part of the filling pre- 4 
sented to the walls of the cavity, is not, as with foil, a smooth# 
hut crystalized surface ; the points and edges of the crystals 
are presented to the walls, and take hold upon them. 
Much depends upon the manner in which it is introduced, 
consolidated, and finished. It will at once be apparent# that 
the manner of filling with this preparation is different from 
that of foil. As the pieces that compose a filling, unite per- 
fectly, it is not important at what point in the cavity we com- 
mence the filling; though, in this, the operator should be 
governed by circumstances; In crown cavities of the molar 
teeth, the filling can be best introduced, by beginning at the 
bottom of the cavity. In cavities of the approximal surfaces 
of the molars and bicuspides, it can be introduced with greater 
facility by beginning the filling at that part of the cavity 
nearest to the neck of the tooth. In the approximal cavities 
of the incisors, circumstances must control the method of the 
operation. Instruments for filling teeth, with this preparation, 
must necessarily differ in some respects from those used for 
filling with foil. The instruments we will now describe, in 
connection with the manner of introducing the filling. But 
little need be said in regard to the preparation of the cavity; 
a remark or two may not be out of place here : The cavity 
should be perfectly excavated and freed from all decayed por- 
tions of the tooth, and extraneous matter, regardless of the 
kind of filling to be employed. It is not necessary to cut 
away the solid bone of the tooth, in the use of this filling., 
that we find requisite under other circumstances. 
In filling, particularly approximal cavities, with foil, it is 
requisite to make an undercutting, that the filling may be 
bound together, and held in its place. This particular 
part of the operation, which, is attended with more or less 
labor to the operator; taxing the endurance of the patient, and 
greatly at the expense of the tooth, is not requsite, at least to 
the same extent, in the use of the crystal gold. In cases when 
there are large approximal cavities in the incisors, they are fre- 
quently ruined by this undercutting or forming the cavity 5 
properly to retain a foil filling. Now that this particular* form 
of cavity is not requisite, in the use of the filling under con- 
sideration, will be apparent from two or three observations. 
The pieces of which the filling is composed, will unite together 
and form a solid mass, independent of the cavity by which it 
is surrounded. Again, this is not necessary to retain the filling 
in the cavity, for it has already been remarked that the filling 
does not present to the walls cf the cavity, a smooth surface, 
but the ends and edges of the crystals, thereby taking hold 
upon the walls, and thus it is retained in place. Again, the 
filling in consequence of this tendency to unite to, or take 
hold upon the sides of the cavity, is not liable to become dis- 
placed during the operation; a vexing accident, which all 
operators experience, more or less, in using foil. Very large 
cavities cannot be filled with foil, we are told, at least very 
many of them; hence an excuse for the use of cement. 
Such cavities can be filled with crystal gold, with as much 
facility as smaller ones, except that a little more time is re- 
quired. I do not maintain the opinion, that teeth having large 
cavities, would be as certainly saved, ultimately,as those hav- 
ing less cavities; for, it may be considered an axiom in 
dental science, that, other things being equal, the larger a 
cavity is, the less certainty there is of saving the tooth perma- 
nently. In filling] lateral cavities, with any material, it is 
important that the teeth be well separated, and it is fully as 
necessary, and probably more so, that they be freely separated 
for filling with gold thus prepared. The cavity being exca- 
vated and perfectly cleansed, the gold should be cut into blocks 
just large enough to enter the cavity freely ; they should not 
be of such a size that they require forcing into the cavity. 
Then with plugging forceps or pliers, place the pieces in the 
cavity. Two or three different forms of forceps will be suffi- 
cient for almost all conceivable cases: one pair with fine 
points and but slightly curved ; and two pairs bent at an angle 
of forty-five degrees; the one with a fine point, and the other 
large, so that when closed, it will form a point about the size 6 
of a full medium plugger* With the slightly curved, fine 
pointed forcep, the blocks can be introduced into any cavities 
of the anterior teeth ; and with those more curved, into cavi- 
ties of the molar teeth; particularly crown and posterior approx- 
imal cavities. The anterior approximal cavities of the molars 
and bicuspides, can be approached with more facility, with 
the forceps first described. 
The forceps are only used to introduce the pieces of which 
the filling is composed ; the compression is accomplished by 
the use of other instruments. The first block being intro- 
duced, a large pointed plugger is then used for setting the 
piece in place. This setting instrument, if I may call it such, 
is a large square-pointed instrument, serrated or cut upon the 
end ; in regard to its size, we should be governed by the size 
of the cavity we are about to fill. It should be as large as 
could freely enter the cavity ; hence quite a number of this 
class of instruments is required ; the reason of this is apparent 
when we consider, that the blocks are put in as large as the 
cavity will receive. After the piece is set in place, then with 
a sharppointed instrument with an abrupt bevel, it is condensed, 
not however, making a smooth surface upon it, for a rough 
surface is required for the reception of the next piece intro- 
duced. The pieces are then introduced with the pliers, set, 
and condensed, successively until the cavity is full. If after 
the filling is compressed, it should not be as full at all points 
as desired ; more may be added, and made to adhere perfectly 
by roughning the surface, and applying as already directed. 
That part of the operation already described as setting, is an 
important item, by this, each piece is made to unite to its 
successor, and also to adapt itself perfectly to the space it is 
designed to occupy. If a block is carelessly thrown in and 
not fixed in place, and space be permitted under it, and an at- 
tempt then made to use the fine pointed instrument, we would 
fail to condense perfectly ; the instrument would only pierce 
the block, and probably break it to pieces; whereas, if it is 
well set, no such accident can occur. After the cavity is full 7 
as it is desired to make it, the entire surface should be traversed 
by the fine pointed plugger, then filed off and burnished. A 
very beautiful finish can be put upon these fillings, with com- 
paratively little labor. For the lateral cavities of the incisors, 
the same general character of points, will be required for the 
plugging instruments. The right and left instruments bearing 
these points, will enter into the variety. In addition to these, 
thin, flat, and even sharp edged, curved instruments, are fre- 
quently required. When the space between the incisors is 
small, and the blocks are made to go tightly between them, 
then the thin instrument will be required to introduce and 
place the piece in the cavity, then the same general principle 
will apply for condensing and finishing, already referred to. 
In cases when it is desired to arch over an exposed nerve, 
it can be easily accomplished, with any common degree of 
care and skill. 
It is preferable to use as large pieces as is admissible, in 
any given cavity; for a large piece can be just as easily and 
perfectly condensed, as a small one; quite the contrary is 
true in regard to foil. A much more solid filling is obtained 
with this preparation than with foil. In proof of this, we 
only refer to the fact, that a filling of it is about one fourth 
heavier than the same sized filling of foil. But then, upon 
this an objection is raised, " that it requires more gold to fill 
a tooth ; " so it does. I do not now intend to answer this ob- 
ection, but only remark, that the more gold that can be put 
into a cavity of a given size, the better for the patient; and in 
nine cases out of ten, they will not refuse to pay for it. 
Some three years ago, a preparation was introduced in 
New York, called " sponge gold" which failed to produce 
the desired result for filling teeth. It was altogether different 
from the preparation above referred to. The difference is 
simply this; that the crystal gold is composed of elongated 
crystals of annealed gold, which forms a tenacious mass, not 
disposed to break to pieces. Now the sponge gold, is not 
crystalized at all, but is gold in a state of minute granulations; 8 
possesses but feeble cohesive properties ; hence it would 
crumble to pieces, and there would be much waste in using 
it. Again, it is impossible that it could unite perfectly, for it 
was not pure metalic gold, but partook of the character of an 
oxide of gold, and consequently it was liable to change after it 
was put into a tooth; hence the objection that subsequently 
arose, " that after a short time it became spongy in the tooth." 
This condition of it arose from two things; First, a change 
took place in the material itself; and second, the inability of 
the granules to unite. It is possible that a sponge gold, per- 
fectly pure,may be used with some degree of success.