Page 344 - My FlipBook

340 EXTRACTION OF TEETH.

the great variety of changes in its form, is evidence
that it is, at best, a very imperfect instrument. It is
impossible to embrace a tooth as deep with it as with
well constructed forceps ; and with it, the liability to
accident in the extraction of teeth, is much greater
than with any other instrument. A strong advocate
of this instrument says that " the key always produces
injury; but the greatest skill exhibits the least

injury."

FORCEPS.

The forceps are the most efficient extracting instru-
ments in use ; and the improvements made in them
during the last few years have been very great;
indeed, twenty years ago, they were not made with
any special adaptation whatever, and were totally
unfit to be used for the extraction of teeth ; but now,
they are constructed with such various shapes and
curves as to facilitate their approach to the teeth,
whatever thefr position in the mouth may be, and to
fit all the various forms, and make the most perfect
embrace of the teeth possible. Forceps, with the pre-
sent improvements, take a deeper and more thorough

hold on the teeth than any other instrument. The
beaks may be made so thin that they will penetrate
between the roots and alveolus, and the adaptation so