Bone can be removed with a dental bur in a straight handpiece or using chisels or gouges.Chisels with curved cutting ends are used for this purpose.Burs are preferred by most dentists because they cut bone predictably and efficiently provided the bur is sharp.Chisels can peel away soft bone of the maxilla with just hand pressure but the dense cortical bone in the mandible requires careful weighted blows with a surgical mallet for the bone surface to be penetrated.This technique is best suited to the experienced operator with the patient under general anesthesia.Rongeurs or bone nibblers are useful for trimming prominent or sharp pieces of bone from the margins of the socket once the tooth is out.