Page 377 - My FlipBook

INFERIOR CUSPIDS. 373

for breaking up the attachment could be more easily
given. They commonly have long, round, conical
roots, not so large as those of the superior cuspids,
nor so difficult to extract—seldom having any curva-
ture, and thus being susceptible of detachment by the
rotary motion. They often stand so much anterior
to the true circle, that an attempt to thrust them
inward, would be liable to break or loosen the lateral

incisors. Their situation, as indeed that of all teeth,
should be strictly attended to before any attempt is
made to remove them.
The crowns of these teeth decay off, and leave the
roots standing, far more frequently than do those of
the superior bicuspids. But there is no difficulty in
the removal of their roots ; and the only indication is,
when they are deeply decayed, to pass the forceps far
down on them, either first cutting away the process
or embracing it,' as the circumstances may warrant;
the former method being preferable. After the root

is extracted, the fractured pieces of process, if any,
should be removed.
A long, tapering screw may sometimes be advan-
tageously used for the extraction of these roots, when
they are decayed so deeply that an extensive break-
ing away of the process would be incident to their
removal with the forceps. The elevator, however, is

rarely ever called in requisition here.