A spring denture for a case in which the lower front teeth still exist. Figs. 1 to 6, various parts of the apparatus (Fauchard).
Fauchard also relates having made an attempt to apply an upper set of teeth without the aid of springs, which proved successful in three cases. “One can,” says he, “adopt an entire set of teeth to the upper jaw, of much greater simplicity than those described, and which is maintained in its place by the sole support of the cheeks and the lower teeth. It must be very light indeed and serves almost solely to improve the appearance and the pronunciation; but when the individual gets used to it, he can also masticate with it. A set of teeth of this kind ought to adhere well to the gums and to be constructed in such a manner that the cheeks may afford it sufficient pressure and support together with the aid of the lower teeth; these latter sometimes bring it back into its place, without anyone perceiving the movement except the wearer himself. Not long since I had to renovate a set of teeth of this kind made by me more than twenty-four years ago, and worn by the owner to the greatest advantage. I have since made two others which have proved most useful to the persons wearing them. It is true that there are few mouths adapted for wearing these sets, so much so that, excepting the three referred to, I have never made any others. To be able to construct similar sets successfully, the dentist must be possessed of skill and ingenuity. Apart from this, they are the most suitable for persons who cannot spend much, as they cost less to make.”[469]
Fauchard did not merely content himself with having perfected dental prosthesis in the manner alluded to; he also succeeded in giving a quite natural appearance to artificial teeth. To reach this end he placed the art of the enameller under contribution to the dental art. Thus he had artificial pieces covered over with enamel, imparting to them the hue that seemed to him best adapted, and also imitating admirably the natural color of the gums, so as to render the illusion perfect. The pieces to be enamelled were worked by special rules, which are minutely given in Chapter XIX of the second volume of his book.
Fauchard also brought the palatine prosthesis to a high degree of perfection. He describes five different obturators of the palate, which of themselves alone would be sufficient to testify to the highly inventive genius of the author, although they are defective in being somewhat too complicated. Some of these fixtures are a combination of a dental set and palatine obturator.
We ought now to mention, in the order of chronology, some authors of lesser importance.
Vasse and De Diest wrote about the danger of fatal hemorrhage following on dental operations.[470] They report a few cases of this kind, giving the blame of these accidents, however, to the carelessness of the operator.
Lavini published in Florence, in the year 1740, a very good treatise on dentistry (Trattato sopra la qualità de’ denti, col modo di cavarli, mantenerli e fortificarli), which, however, marks no advance on the work of Fauchard.
M. Bunon (died 1749), a French dentist, wrote four admirable works on dentistry, which were published from 1741 to 1744. We will here briefly allude to the most salient ideas therein contained.