94 CLEFT palate: 



only can complete relief be afforded, in fissure of the 

 soft palate, by mechanical means, but that the 

 apparatus necessary is simple and easily constructed. 



The mechanical treatment of fissure of the hard 

 palate requires but a word from me. The artificial 

 palate should be constructed of a durable material, 

 so as to save the wearer the inconvenience and 

 expense of frequent renewals ; it should be fitted 

 with absolute accuracy to the surrounding parts, 

 and when in its place should be retained there with 

 firmness. But to secure this necessary point, the 

 ingenuity of the dentist will often have to be taxed, 

 as the ordinary method of securing plates by collars 

 cannot always be employed. 



A model of such a case is on the table to-night. 

 (Plate X., Fig. a.) In that case, while a sufficient 

 hold could be obtained for the anterior portion of 

 the plate by collars round the canine on one side, 

 and the bicuspid on the other, none could be 

 obtained for the posterior extremity of the plate, in 

 consequence of the molar teeth being too short to 

 ofier a neck around which the collar could be car- 

 ried. The plan employed was to carry a process of 

 plate (Fig. c) from the nasal surface of the obturator 

 to rest upon the nasal surface of the roof of the 

 antrum, of which a correct model could be easily 

 obtained, as the turbinated bones and the vomer 

 had exfoliated. This was soldered to the obturator, 

 and it was found that by carrying the apparatus 

 in edgeways, this process of plate could be got into 



