EXTRACTION OF THE TEETH. EXTRACTION OF THE TEETH BY J. F. COLYER, L.R.C.P., M.R.C.S. L.D.S. _Dental Surgeon and Lecturer on Dental Surgery to Charing Cross Hospital: Assistant Dental Surgeon to the Dental Hospital of London_ London: CLAUDIUS ASH & SONS, LIMITED, 5, 6, 7, 8 AND 9, BROAD STREET, GOLDEN SQUARE, W. 1896 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. PAGE THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF EXTRACTION OF THE TEETH 1 CHAPTER II. THE EXTRACTION OF INDIVIDUAL TEETH 19 CHAPTER III. THE EXTRACTION OF MISPLACED TEETH 46 CHAPTER IV. THE USE OF ANÆSTHETICS DURING EXTRACTION OF THE TEETH 56 CHAPTER V. DIFFICULTIES, COMPLICATIONS, AND SEQUELÆ OF EXTRACTION OF THE TEETH 63 INDEX 96 EXTRACTION OF THE TEETH. CHAPTER I. The General Principles of Extraction of the Teeth. As an operation, extraction of teeth is fortunately becoming more rare, but even now large numbers are needlessly sacrificed, in many cases owing to ignorance on the part of the patient of the value of the teeth, at times to lack of knowledge on the part of both operator and patient of the modern methods of conservative dentistry. With the assistance of antiseptics in the treatment of root-canals, and the increase in knowledge of the methods of filling and crowning teeth, it is now possible to retain many which would in former days have been extracted--indeed it may be said with truth that all teeth and many roots are capable of being saved and rendered useful, with the exception of-- (1) Those teeth whose roots are much shortened by absorption. (2) Those teeth from which the alveolar process has disappeared to such an extent as to leave them quite loose; and (3) Those teeth attacked with chronic periodontitis, which, in spite of treatment, tends to become worse. Special circumstances naturally alter cases; for instance, with patients the subjects of nervous prostration, or feeble in health, a lengthy operation is often contra-indicated, and under such conditions extraction may be preferable to the lengthy and tedious processes of conservative treatment. Another indication for extraction is in cases of teeth setting up or aggravating ulceration of the tongue, lips, or other soft parts of the mouth. Teeth fractured in a longitudinal direction should generally be removed, and the same rule applies to those which are so misplaced as to be incapable of being brought into the normal arch. In crowded conditions of the teeth extraction is often called for, and under such circumstances is really conservative treatment.