SECRETS OF A DENTISTS CHAIR.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9364, 13 March 1896, Page 2

SECRETS OF A DENTISTS CHAIR.

" One woman in three wears artificial teeth ! " Such is the astounding statement made to one of our representatives by a dentist who certainly has one of the largest practices in London. Whether it be that too great a devotion on the part of the softer sex to sweet things induces decay or no, the fact remains, that of my informant's clients the huge proportion of 92 per cent, are women.

"And are ladies braver than men when seated in the operating chair ? " I asked. "Oh much !" replied my informant with a smile. " I have seen BIG MEN BEHAVISCG LIKE BABIES, while fragile-looking women have faced the music without a murmur. People are often attacked with dentists fright, I find ; they get as far as? the door, ring tho bell, and then are forced by an uncontrollable impulse to run down the steps again." ' : Do you ever have trouble with patients under gas '! " was my nsxt query. " Well, yc3 : one gentleman while recovering became 'violent, pulled out a knife, and would have carved the operator if he had not been promptly calmed ; while we often see exhibitions of boxing on the pare of patients still*' under the influence. But would yon- like to sue an operation ? A. lady is just going to havo gas in the next room."' I followed the dentist into the dread chamber, where a golden-haired dame was roclining in the chiir. A black "face-piece " covered her nose and mouth, and was attached by a tuba to the bac. As the gas was pumped into the " faee-pisce," no appreciable difference was sssn in the patient's demeanour until, presently, j A SUCCESSION' OF LOUD SNOUES proclaimed that the anaesthetic had taken effect. The shrgaon seized his forceps, in a moment the oft'ending tooth was out, and in lesa time tlyin it takes to write it, the patient had recovered and was confessing that siie had felt not the slightest pain. 41 Patients have cjucer dreams when under the influence of gas,", continued the dentist presently. " One well-kno.vn M.P. always dreams that he is a millstone—of all things in the world ; others dream of battles and sieges : while somellave delightful visions of beautiful gardens and dream-cities, more lavishing than anything on earth. But the majority—l should think 80 per cent.— dream of being in a railway accident. Queer, isn't it ?

"Don't you believe those stories of patients orating, conversing, or otherwise holding forth while under the influence of gas. How can they, considering that THEIR MOUTHS ARE H2LD WIDE OTT.S by the gag, and the operator is busy' with his forceps directly the face-piece is removed? Danger !•" Not a bib of it. I have personally given the gas to thousands of people from three .years old to ninety, and I claim that the nitrous oxide is absolutely safe. But to obviate the smallest suspicion of danger, we always keep a tiny phial of nitrate of amyl at hand. If we thought the patient was in danger, this phial would be immediately broken under his nose, and the fumes of the amyl "would restore the action of the heart instantly. " Yes, some people nave QITiSCP. I DBAS OF A USNTTST's WOSK, Occasionally they write, inclosing a fee, and asking for a set of teeth to be forwarded, never dreaming that it is necessary for their mouths to be examined. other 3 send sketches of their jaws, often very cleverly done, while some patients want to buy the specimens iutho show-case. • Yes, I'll have: tiiat,' thsy s|,y 4 tp.a.speciinen, and they ssem surprised tyh.en told that the odds are against it-fitting'them. Many are the devices adopted by ladies to prevent their friends knowing that they wear false teeth. I have often had patients who, by their voices and accents, evidently moved in the best society, but who came on foot, and were dreaded'verv indifferently indeed."

" Can you toll mc anything of the foolish fad of having jewels set'in the teeth." '■ I can tell you that I do all I can to disconrage the practice. Many Ladies have called upon mc io have gems—pearls a.nd diamonds mostly—inserted in their teeth, but I don't hold with the fad. No, the operation is noi very painful. A hole is drilled in the tooth, and the stone in a setting is fixed therein. Of course the enamel is destroyed by this operation, and decay soon, sets in. I shall be glad'to see this extraordinary custom—which was by-the-bye, imported from America, the land of fads—die out altogether, for it means destruction to the teeth. Oh, here is an item to. take away with you. It seems incredible, but I have bsen for twenty years in the dental profession,' and I have come to the - conclusion that women have larger mouths than men!"