Pressure processing with metal casts

Abstract

It is interesting to know that dentistry has kept pace with science and the new world of physics. In a man’s lifetime the profes­ sion has come from the foot-power drill to the air turbine, from assembled partial dentures to one-piece castings, and in prosthetics from the old vulcanite and bakelite denture base materials to a series of refined resins for the many present needs. It is dentistry’s goal now to learn the proper handling of these new resins that have come forth at great cost and much foresight. Every big dental manu­ facturer now has a research department. It might be well that those who are work­ ing members of this same dental research team lend a little of their thinking and working toward investigation, and assist the manufacturers in developing the ma­ terials that are needed. It has been said that science can produce any material needed if only exact specifications are given. The dental profession is perhaps a little closer to the goal set by G. N. Johnson when he said that someday there would be materials so nearly similar to tooth structure as to offer ideal restora­ tions. One must not go overboard on new fads and technics, but allow for time to try new materials and methods. It is well to remember Shakespeare’s “Be not the first by whom the new is tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside.” It might be well to teach the public an apprecia­ tion for the accomplishments of dentistry and possibly open the door to more pub­ lic and private contributions to dental research. Dentists must be trained to think as professional men and add stature to their position in the world of business and health.