One of the most important instruments used in the extraction procedure is the dental elevator
Elevators come in different designs, shapes and sizes
The three major components of the elevator are the handle,shank, and blade
Used to elevate and loosen the tooth from the periodontal ligament.
Elevation is done to create space and prevent trauma to adjacent teeth and tissues.
Available in sizes 1, 2 and 3 – working end gets larger with increase in size number.
The handle of the elevator is pear shaped
In some situations, crossbar or T-bar handles are used.
The shank of the elevator simply connects the handle to the working end, or blade, of the elevator.
The blade of the elevator is the working tip of the
The blade has two surfaces: a convex and a concave one.
Types of elevators Straight elevator it is used to luxate the teeth The blade of the straight elevator has a concave surface on one
side
Come in different sizes
Cryer’s elevator – they come in pairs
The triangleshaped elevator is most useful when a broken root remains in the tooth socket and the adjacent socket is empty ( Commonly used in the mandibular arch)
In experts hands they can be used in the maxilla to luxate maxillary teeth or roots
Winter’s cross-bar elevator
Warwick-James elevator – this is a delicate elevator
Available as straight and curved (paired)
It is used to luxate the teeth in the maxilla
Since the handle is flat , the amount of the force aginat the bone will decrease ( reduce the incidence of the fracture)
Crane pick elevator Crane pick elevator is a heavy instrument used to elevate
the whole roots or even teeth
This elevator possess a sharp and thick , curved working that can be used for removing root
Root tip pick, or apexo elevator– this is a delicate instrument
The instrument is wedged between the root and the bone
It is not used to push the roots
Double-angled elevators (also refered as Apexo elevator)
They are mainly used to remove root tips in both jaws
Their handle is similar to that of the straight elevator.
The shank has a double angle
The blade has a sharp point which can easily remove small broken root tips
Function
Removal of tooth from alveolar bone
Designed in various styles and configurations to adapt to variety of teeth for which they are used
Components
Components of a dental extraction forceps consists of:
- handle
- hinge
- beaks
1. Handle
They are made of adequate size
They are serrated
For the maxillary teeth, the forceps are held with palm under the forceps
For the mandibular teeth, the palm is kept on top of the forceps
Handles can be straight or curved
This provides the operator with a sense of "better fit"
2. Hinge
Like the shank of an elevator
The hinge transfers and concentrates the forces applied to the beaks.
The American type of forceps has a hinge that is directed in a horizontal direction with the handles of the forcep
While The English type of forceps has a hinge that is directed vertically to the handles of the forecep
3. Beaks
The beaks of the forcep are concave on their inner aspect and shaped to fit around the root of the tooth
The beak is designed to adapt to the tooth root at the junction of the crown and root
Upper anterior forceps
Used for extracting upper incisors & canines
Beaks are symmetrical & are placed in the same line as the handles
beaks are concave and not pointed
Beaks are shorter than the handles, so that load arm is shorter than the working arm
Upper Univeral forcep Used for removing premolars teeth
Beaks are symmetrical , concave, not pointed
The forcep have a slightly curved shape and look like an “S.”
Holding the forceps in the hand, the concave part of the curved handle faces the palm,while the concave part of the beaks is turned upwards
Maxillary molar forceps
There are two maxillary molar forceps: one for the left and one for the right side
Forceps have a slightly curved shape
The have asymmetrical beaks : sharply pointed buccal beak and rounded palatal beak
Beaks are broader than anterior forceps
Maxillary Third Molar Forceps. It is the longest forceps, due to the posterior position of the
third molar
The beaks are offset from the handle in a bayonet fashion
The beaks of forceps are concave and smooth (without pointed ends)
The forceps can be used for extraction of both the left and right maxillry third molar and maxillary second molar (conical roots)
Maxillary cowhorn forceps.
They are particularly useful for maxillary molars whose crowns are severely decayed.
The sharply pointed beaks may reach deeper into the trifurcation
The major disadvantage is that they crush alveolar bone, and when used on intact teeth without due caution, fracture of large amounts of buccal alveolar bone may occur.
Maxillary cow horn forceps has a bayonet design, and are commonly used to extract the maxillary third molar , as well as , it can be used to extraxt the maxillary first and secnd molar
Maxillary cow horn forceps have unidentical beaks, one has pointed tip and the other has bifid pointed beaks
With experinced hands, the surgeon can extract the maxillary third molar by engaging the furcation area between the buccal roots by one pointed tip of the bifid beak so that other tips engane the trifurcation area from the distal area and from the palatal sides
Or , as it recommened by the manufacture, the dentist can usually extract the third molar by engaging the single pointed beak on the furcation area between the buccal roots and the other bifid pointed tip engages the palatal root
If Maxillary cow horn forceps is used to extract the maxillary first and second molar, the dentist should engage the single pointed beak on the furcation area between the buccal roots and the other bifid pointed beak should engages the palatal root ( strong apical force is important to engage the cervical portion of the root , not the crown (other wise it will crush the crown)
Upper root forceps
Designed for removing maxillary roots
The handles of the root tip forceps are straight, while the beaks are narrow and offset from the handle in a bayonet fashion
Beaks closely approximate each other and they meat at the ends
Beaks are narrow to fit to the circumference of the root & provide firm grip
Lower anterior forceps
Lower anterior forceps have identical , short closed beaks
Beaks are narrower than lower molar forceps, similar to upper root forceps
Beaks are at right angles to the handles
They can also be used as lower root forceps
The mandibular premolar forcep have identical long and broad open beaks
The mandibular premolar forcep and can be use to extract the mandibular canine
Lower molar forceps
Beaks are at right angles to the handles
Beaks are symmetrically pointed & the sharp pointed tips engage the bifurcation at the buccal & lingual surfaces
Beaks are more broader & stout
Mandibular Third Molar Forceps. These have straight handles, while the beaks, are curved at a right angle compared to the handles.
The beaks are a little longer compared to the previous forceps
Because this tooth varies in the shape and size and because there is usually no root bifurcation, the ends of the beaks of the forceps are concave without a pointed design.( most useful for the third molar with have fused conical roots)
Other types of the lower third forcep, have bilateral pointed tips in the center to adapt into the bifuraction area if it is present between the roots
Lower cowhorns forceps
They have two heavy beaks with a very sharp tips that can fit into the root bifurcation
These forceps are often used when the crown of the tooth is badly broken down.
They often cause the tooth to split in two the roots can be removed separately with elevators
Mandibular Root Tip Forceps.
The handles of the root tip forceps are straight,while the beaks are curved at a right angle.
Their ends are very narrow and meet at the tip when the forceps are closed