BY
Professor of Operative Dentistry and Dental Hygiene, in the Dental Department
of Western Reserve University.
Member of the American Dental Association; of the Ohio State Dental
Society; of the Northern Ohio Dental Association;
of the Cleveland City Dental Society.
PHILADELPHIA:
THE S. S. WHITE DENTAL MFG. CO.,
LONDON:
CLAUDIUS ASH & SONS, Limited.
1897
Copyright, Henry L. Ambler, 1896.
All rights reserved.
Entered at Stationers Hall, London.
Believing that sufficient and well-deserved prominencewas not being given to the use of tin foil and its combinations,the author decided to present a brief historical résuméof the subject, together with such practical information as hepossesses, before the profession in order that it may have thesatisfaction of saving more teeth, since that is the pre-eminentfunction of the modern dentist. One object is to meet thedemand for information in regard to the properties and usesof tin foil; this information has been sought to be given inthe simplest form consistent with scientific accuracy. Thepresent use of tin is a case of the "survival of the fittest,"because tin was used for filling teeth more than one hundredyears ago. There is not a large amount of literature uponthe subject, and no single text-book has treated the matterfully enough to answer the needs of both teacher and pupil.It is difficult for the student to collect and harmonize fromthe many different sources just the kind and amount of informationrequired for his special use. Perhaps this work willbe of assistance to scientific students and practical operatorsin the art of using tin foil, including all who wish in compactform an explanation of the facts and principles upon whichthe art is based. A good method to arouse in students aninterest in the use of tin foil is to have them use it in operativetechnics, which is becoming an effective adjunct in everydental college. By this means a great factor will be broughtto bear, and the result will be that hundreds of graduates[iv]every year will begin practice better qualified to save teeththan if they had not known whatever may be learned aboutthis material. At the University of Pennsylvania, Departmentof Dentistry, session 1896-97, out of the total numberof fillings made in the clinical department (fractions omitted)55 per cent. were gold, 15 per cent. tin, 10 per cent. amalgam.This shows that tin has some very strong friends in the personsof Professors Darby and Kirk.
The historical sketch of the development of the subject isarranged in chronological order, and is given partly to showthat some old ideas and methods were good, and someobviously incorrect when viewed in the light of more recentdevelopments. Part of the history will be new to the oldestmembers of the profession, and the younger ones will certainlyread it with interest. The work has been brought upto date by considering all the properties and methods available.More names, good opinions, and dates could havebeen given, but the writer believes that what is herein presentedis enough to thoroughly substantiate his own opinions,experiments, and practical applications. Some of the illustrationshave been made especially for this work; the othershave been obtained through the courtesy of the o