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SEPARATION OF THE TEETH. 131

violence to the parts. It is not generally practicable
to attempt to separate the molar teeth by pressure.

The method of effecting immediate separation is
it consists in forcing a wedge of some
very simple ;
fine grained wood of medium resistance—orange or
box wood—between the teeth to be separated, either
by pressure with the hand, or better by the blows of
a mallet. The wedge should be driven in at the necks
of the teeth; and when they are very firm, an
assisting wedge may be used, inserted between the

points of the teeth, and receiving strokes alternately
with the other. The assisting wedge should be of
very dense wood, and driven in with great care, for
its leverage upon the teeth is very great. When
the required space is obtained, the wedge at the
necks of the teeth should be driven tightly in, and
the other withdrawn. If all the teeth in the vicinity
of those to be separated stand in contact, the resist-
ance to separation, whether by immediate or gradual

effort, will be greater.
The rapidity with which the operation may pro-
ceed, and the extent to which it may be carried,
will be determined by the tolerance of the parts to
the movement, which should not be greater than the
elasticity of the tissues will permit, not the slightest
laceration or rupture should be made ; again great
care should be observed, lest strangulation of the ves-