Specification of Michael Jackson : shield for the gums.

  • Jackson, Michael.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Michael Jackson : shield for the gums. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Jacksons Improved Shield for the Gums. ITOW KE’OW YE, that I, the said Michael Jackson, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the 5 letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) — My Invention of ‘‘ An Improved Shield for the Gums, to Protect them from Injury when Cleaning the Teeth,” consists in the use of a thin metallic jdate which is made to fit over the gums close up to the necks of the teeth, leaving the whole of the enamelled surface of the teeth exposed. A separate plate is 10 fitted to the upper and lower jaws, and these j)lates are secured temporarily in their place when in use by means of spring attachments, or by strings or other convenient means which will allow the mouth to be opened. The gums being thus protected, the wearer may without tlie risk of injuring them, brush his teeth well, and perfectly cleanse them down to the necks. I would observe 15 that as the gum shields are only used when the teeth are being cleaned it is not absolutely necessary for the shields to be made of gold, as other metals, such as silver, will answer the purpose equally well. Of course copper and its alloys would be inapplicable, as it would leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth, but other metals or alloys which are sufficiently ductile, and 20 not possess the inconvenience above mentioned, may be employed if desired. In the accompanying Drawing, I have shewn different views of my improved gum shields, and the mode of applying the same to the teeth. Fig. 1 is a front view, and Fig. 2 a plan view of one of the metallic shields, 25 detached from the teeth; Fig. 3 represents one of the shields applied to the upper jaw; and-Fig. 4 represents the pair of shields adapted to the two jaws. They may if desired be connected together at the inner ends by 'a spring fastening, but this is not necessary, and may sometimes even be found inconvenient. The metallic gum shields may be secured in the SO mouth while cleaning the teeth by means of a cord or string of silk, secured by one end to one side of the metallic shield, the other end of the cord being made to pass across the mouth to the opposite end of the shield, which may be held down firmly thereby; various other plans of securing the shields may be adopted; I do not therefore intend to limit myself to any par- 35 ticular plan. Having now described my Invention of “An Improved Shield for the Gums, to Protect them from Injury when Cleaning the Teeth,” and having explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I claim as the