ANIMAL DENTISTRY. 159 



the opposing crown is ample remedy pending the develop- 

 ment of serious complications. A decayed molar, although 

 a foreign (dead) body, may become encysted in a protecting 

 wall and cause no further trouble. The operation of remov- 

 ing a tooth crown is accomplished with a claw cutter. (Fig. 

 lOO.) The removal of teeth is accomplished by either of the 

 following methods : 



(i) By extraction wnth forceps. 



(2) By repulsion with punch and mallet. 



(3) By removal of the external alveolar plate. 



(4) By splitting with chisel and mallet. 



(i) EXTRACTION WITH FORCEPS. 



Equipment: — Open molar extractor, closed molar ex- 

 tractor, separating forceps, hardwood fulcra of assorted 

 sizes, and if operation is performed in the recumbent posi- 

 tion, a mouth speculum. 



Indications: — Forcep extraction should be adopted as the 

 universal method to remove molars having crowns long 

 enough to grasp fijrmly. Even though trephining may be 

 necessary to reach the existing secondary condition, forcep 

 extraction should, if possible, precede the trephining. 



Restraint: — Choice between the standing and recumbent 

 positions must be decided by the probable complacency of 

 the patient and the skill of the operator. For the standing 

 position the horse is backed into a single stall and confined 

 to the pillars with the dental halter. The head must be 

 brought downward within easy reach. If the operation is 

 resisted by forcible movements of the jaw a mouth speculum 

 may be applied. The mouth speculum should, however, be 

 avoided if possible, as it will interfere with the free use of 

 the instruments. For the recumbent position the patient is 

 placed in a dorso-lateral attitude with the mouth speculum 

 adiusted and the head inclining upward. Anaesthesia is not 



