14(> VETERINARY DENTAL SURGERY. 



with nerves which come from the fifth pair and are 

 very sensitive, and it is owing to its extreme sensibility 

 that toothache is so severe when the pulp is exposed. 



TREATMENT. 



There are two methods of dealing 

 with long teeth, one by extracting and 

 the other by cutting the tooth down even 

 with the other teeth. The age of the 

 animal will be an important element in 

 deciding which course to pursue. If but 

 four or five years old the tooth should be 

 extracted, which may be accomplished 

 with the common heavy extracting for- 

 ceps. If the tooth is cut off at this age 

 there is danger of exposing the nerve 

 and severe toothache would result; caries 

 would soon supervene, making the entire 

 removal of the tooth necessary. 



If the horse is seven years old or over, 

 the tooth may be cut off with the open 

 molar cutters. Fig. 33. 



It should then be dressed smooth with 

 the float so that the soft structures of the 



mouth which come in contact with the 

 FIG. 33. 



Open molar tooth, will not become irritated and ulcer- 

 cutter. 



ated. 



If the tooth is cut off it should be looked after 

 at least once each year, for it gradually protrudes 



