For the upper molars two forceps are required, one for each side of the jaw; the beaks of these are well hollowed to admit the crown of the tooth. The inner beak terminates in a crescentic border to fit the large internal fang (see figs. 80 & 81); the outer beak has two smaller grooves separated by a point, that passes between the two external fangs.
In drawing these teeth the forceps should be thrust as high as possible and held firmly, while the fangs are loosened by moving the tooth from side to side, but from the multiplicity of fangs, rotary motion is not available.
Fig. 80.—Left upper molar tooth and forceps.
Fig. 81.—Right upper molar forceps.
The wisdom molars are often difficult to seize from being almost buried in the jaw; as they resemble a bicuspid in shape, bicuspid forceps (fig. 78) should be employed; if this fails to penetrate between the tooth and the alveolus, the narrow incisor forceps (fig. 77) can be driven up till it grasps the tooth. Not unfrequently the fang of this tooth in the lower jaw is curved backwards and prevents extraction when the tooth has been loosened; this difficulty may be overcome by pushing the crown of the tooth a little backwards so as to tilt the fang forwards out of place.
When the molars are closely set, or the tooth to be extracted is overhung by its neighbour, it is often difficult to avoid tearing the gum extensively and even carrying away more than one tooth; tearing the gum is easily avoided by lancing it before applying the forceps, and slow and steady movements of the wrist usually prevent the latter accident, or the overhanging tooth may be filed away before the forceps are applied.
The inferior molars (fig. 82) have forceps, whose beaks are doubly grooved and pointed, to enable them to seize the neck on each side between the two fangs.
