Note (40) — CANTO FOURTH.

The chief object of attention in artificial teeth is, that the substance be durable, and not liable to change color. Human teeth and those of small animals have been heretofore supposed to answer the best purpose, while teeth cut from those of the sea horse have ranked next in importance; but lately, they have been formed with great success from certain materials known to the manufacturers, and have been variously denominated, according to the taste of the artist—silicious pearl teeth—mineral teeth—porcelain teeth—incorruptible, and terro-metallic. Under these titles, teeth of various degrees of excellence are now made, both in Europe and this country, and from their great beauty, cleanliness, durability, and unchangeableness in regard to color, will no doubt be generally adopted. They certainly possess some advantages over any other substitute for original teeth.

Of the various methods which have been devised for fixing artificial teeth, the most successful is, that of fastening a new tooth by means of a pivot to a sound fang. When thus fastened, the tooth may be worn for a considerable time without producing any inconvenience. The next method is, to adapt a tooth to the aperture from which another has been extracted, and to fasten it to the adjoining teeth. A third method is, to supply the place of teeth by means of a gold plate, to which the substitutes are firmly affixed, the plate being fitted to the gums, and supported by means of springs. A fourth mode of supplying teeth, by which whole sets may be provided and worn with great convenience, is to prepare gold or ivory frames, fitted closely to the gums, on which the teeth are firmly arranged, and, by means of springs, made to perform all the most essential functions of original teeth.