Page 378 - My FlipBook

374 EXTRACTION OF TEETH.

INFERIOR BICUSPIDS.

These teeth, two in number on each side, have but
one root each, and that generally round, or nearly so,
and not so long as that. of the cuspids; and have less
diameter at the neck than they. They require, in
extraction, forceps for each side, as already described
(see Fig. 69). They may be removed either by the
rotary, or by the inward and outward movement, or
both combined. With the handle of the forceps
thrown very far out of a line with the axis of the
tooth, it is always more difficult to be rotated

accurately in its socket; a straight instrument is best
for the rotary motion. In the removal of these teeth
from the right side, when the mouth is small, care
should be taken that too much pressure is not made
against the anterior tooth. This accident is more
liable to happen in the removal of the second bicus-
pid, than in that of the first, and especially if the
mouth can not be opened wide. As the tooth comes
out, the forceps are liable, without some attention, to
strike the superior teeth, and in this way fracture
them or scale off their enamel. In many cases, for-
ceps with a forward and an outward curvature com-
bined, would be very desirable, for facility of ap-

proaching the tooth; but with such a complication
of curves, the operator loses control of the instru-
ment.