Fig. 17.
(b) Upper Canines.—These teeth, like the incisors, are single rooted, but the difference between the curve of the anterior and posterior surfaces is greater. The roots too are much longer, more firmly implanted, and hence require more force in their removal. Forceps similar in pattern to those used for incisors may be used, the severance of the tooth from its attachments being brought about by force applied in an inward, followed by an outward, direction. The root being more or less three sided, rotation cannot well be adopted.
The roots of canine teeth are to be removed in the same manner as that adopted for the whole tooth.
(c) Upper Bicuspids.—The first bicuspid has usually one root flattened and more or less longitudinally grooved on its mesial and distal surfaces. If this grooving is much marked, it results in a greater or less division of the root into two slender terminations. Whether such bifurcation exists or not can seldom be determined before operation and would not modify the method adopted, but the tendency to this variation should be borne in mind and the lateral movement be very gently applied. The internal and external surfaces of the root are for all practical purposes of equal curvature.
The second bicuspid has usually only one root, which is not so flattened in the antero-posterior diameter as the first. There is also not the same tendency to grooving or bifurcation of the root as there is in the first bicuspid.
The blades of forceps for the bicuspids should be equal segments of the same circle; they should also be bent at an angle with the handles, so that the latter may clear the lower lip. The forceps shown in [fig. 18] is a useful pattern. In removing an upper bicuspid, the inner blade of the forceps should be applied first. For severing the tooth from its attachments a slight inward movement should first be made, followed by an outward one. If this fails to cause the socket to yield, the inward movement may again be made, followed by an outward one, and repeated if necessary. The removal of the tooth from its socket is to be carried out by force applied in a downward and outward direction. It is well to remember that the force applied to the inward should always be slight compared to that used in the outward direction. The removal of bicuspid roots is carried out in a manner similar to that for the whole tooth.
Fig. 18.