When filling decayed or injured teeth with gold, it is necessary that the gold is throughly condensed within the teeth. For this purpose, a mallet is used to deliver blows upon an instrument called a “plugger,” which bears with one end against the filling. Mallets made of wood have been used but those do not have sufficient weight to be effective. Metal mallets have also been used but those are too violent and jarring upon the teeth and can cause teeth to loosen and are painful to the patient. A mallet made of soft metal like lead works best, but those become misshapen with use to such an extent that it is soon rendered useless. Julius A. Bidwell has invented these plugging mallets which have a hard steel shell over a soft lead filled core. The steel shell prevents the softer metal within from “mushrooming” so that the mallet retains its form and usefulness. Patented May 31, 1870
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