The Head and Neck 91 



chisel commonly used by dentists, the point of which should be 

 kept sharp. It should be used with a pushing motion preferably in a 



No. 31. Scaling chisel. 



direction away from the gum, but the opposite direction may be 

 necessary to reach out-of-the-way places hidden by the gum. The 

 removal process must be thorough, since any particle left remain- 

 ing, by acting as a nucleus, favors further accumulation. What 

 cannot be removed with the instrument can be cleaned up with a 

 small piece of wood whittled to the shape of a chisel and dipped in 

 weak acid. The operation should be supplemented with free use of 

 some disinfectant solution, preferably permanganate of potash 

 (2:100). The latter is easily applied by saturating a small piece of 

 absorbent cotton, holding it by hemostatic forceps, and swabbing 

 the parts. 



In most animals, if patience and tact are observed, the operation 

 can be completed without muzzling or other means of control. In- 

 tractable animals should be narcotized. Dogs of small size are best 

 held in the lap during the operation. 



After removal of deposits, the importance of maintaining the 

 teeth clean should be impressed on the owner, otherwise the con- 

 dition will soon be again in evidence. Some animals seem to be pre- 

 disposed to the affection and require to undergo periodic cleaning 

 in order to maintain the teeth intact. In these cases the daily use 

 of the permanganate is advisable. 



EXTBACTION. 



Single incisors or small molars may be extracted in most ani- 

 mals without recourse to anesthesia, but where several of the 

 smaller teeth are to be withdrawn it is well to narcotize with 

 morphine. 



Firmly embedded canines or molars, particularly in large ani- 

 mals, should be extracted only with the animal under general anes- 

 thesia. The employment of a mouth speculum is usually necessary. 



In extracting a tooth, it must be remembered that the operation 

 does not merely consist in "pulling" it, excepting where it has been 



