160 ANIMAL DENTISTRY 



advisable, owing to the greater danger of blood flowing into 

 the trachea. 



Modus operandi : — The first requirement is to loosen the 

 tooth. It is safe to assert that the tooth that cannot be 

 loosened cannot be lifted from its cavity without fracture, or 

 injury to the teeth upon which the fulcrum is placed. The 

 loosening process is accomplished by wedging the molar 

 separator into the inderdentia, first on one side, then on 

 the other until it can be easily closed in the spaces. Tor- 

 sion is then applied with the extracting forceps until the 

 tooth is felt to be well loosened. Undue haste or. the ap- 

 plication of great force must be avoided and care must be 

 taken to prevent fracture in a sudden movement of the head. 

 The extractor is now adjusted firmly to the crown and the 

 fulcrum block placed as near its head as possible. Gradual, 

 firm outward traction will readily bring the tooth from its 

 implantation. When the tooth is divided into two or more 

 fragile segments the manipulation must be carefully exe- 

 cuted to prevent fracture. 



Accidents :-=-The extraction of molars is not entirely 

 without danger. The possible misfortunes are: (i) Frac- 

 ture of the tooth which will necessitate removal by some 

 more complicated method: (2) wounding the palatine artery 

 with the jaw of the forceps; (3) excessive hemorrhage from 

 the dental artery. 



1. Fracture of the decayed tooth that is uncomplicated 

 with secondary disorders may be treated by the simple re- 

 moval of the opposing crown. If there are catarrhal or fis- 

 tulous complications repulsion will be necessary. 



2. Palatine hemorrhage is serious and unless arrested 

 will endanger life. The accident occurs as a result of the 



.horse chewing forcibly upon the end of the internal jaw of 

 the forcep while being adjusted to the superior tooth. As 

 soon as the accident occurs the operation must cease and 



