Dr. Stoddard:—Yes, it can be ground down and polished; and when it is wet in the mouth it looks just as well as English porcelain.
Dr. Clapp:—I have had very little experience in inlay fillings, but I find that the process of grinding in the piece of artificial tooth, when that is used, can be considerably facilitated by cementing the piece of porcelain into the end of a small stick with cements the same as is used by lapidaries who cut precious stones. I would like to ask Dr. Stoddard about the Ash teeth, they being softer and more easily fused than the bodies that we have, would it be possible to take those teeth and pound them up the same as the body is made now, and then use them as the body?
Dr. Stoddard:—That never occurred to me, but I think very likely it could be done. The only question it seems to me is in the coloring material, whether it would bleach or not.
Dr. Meriam:—I think we should make a distinction between the Ash ordinary tooth and the Ash Tube tooth. The tube tooth fuses at a lower temperature, and in soldering this tube tooth I found that it would change color and once, for a man with teeth very yellow, I took advantage of that fact and secured a very good match.
Dr. Clapp:—I would like to mention a case that came under my observation a short time ago. It was in the right superior lateral, the mesial portion being turned outwardly a very little. I noticed that there was a slight defect extending a little above and below the enamel, but no decay. I think I examined this tooth two or three times before I discovered that there was a porcelain inlay at that point. On questioning the patient, I learned that it had been put in by Dr. Rollins, eight or nine years ago. I find diamond disks the best for grinding inlays.
Dr. Meriam:—I remember hearing of a dentist standing by the chair of Dr. Perry, in New York, and his showing an operation he had done of that kind; it is now probably seventeen or eighteen years ago. The dentist pointed out that there was a check in his tooth, when it was a tip Dr. Perry had put on.
PRESENTATION OF SPECIMENS.
Dr. Cooke:—I wish to present a piece of steel which was sent me by Dr. Wetzel, of Germany. He got it from Geneva. It is very thin, and is a first-rate thing to use for a matrix, &c., and for passing in between the teeth where something very thin is needed.
A method of casting a plaster model where you take a bite and desire to get a model very quickly: First, cast one side, turn the impression over, place a double piece of bibulous paper over the plaster that is to form the tail piece and cast the other side. It comes apart without any trouble, doing away with shellac and oil, and is done with one mix of plaster.
Dr. Clapp:—A bit of vaseline will accomplish the same thing.