Elevators
Elevators are single-bladed instruments designed for specific
purposes delivering maximum mechanical advantage with minimum
efforts to force a tooth or root along the line of withdrawal.
Elevators are used for luxating (loosening) the teeth before
application of forceps making extraction easier, subsequently avoiding
complications like fracture of crowns, roots, and bone especially in
cases with badly carious teeth and teeth with heavy filling.
Elevators have three components:
Uses of elevators
1. To luxate teeth from surrounding bone.
2. To expand the alveolar bone.
3. Remove of broken roots
4. Remove of surgically sectioned roots.
(a) Correct placement on
a Bony Fulcrum,
(b) incorrect use of
adjacent tooth as a
fulcrum
Rules of Elevators
1. The elevator should be held in the palm of the dominant hand with
the index finger along its axis.
Rules of Elevators
2. Never use the adjacent tooth as a fulcrum, unless the tooth is to be
extracted too
3. Always use finger guards to protect the surrounding soft tissues
from being injured in case the elevator slips
4. Never use the lingual plate of bone as a fulcrum
5. Always use finger guards to protect the surrounding soft tissues
from being injured in case the elevator slips
6. Be certain that forces applied by the elevator are under control.
Elevators used with Teeth
1. Straight elevator: Elevator in which the blade, shank, and the handle
are straight. The working blade or end is blind and round, there are
many types and sizes of straights.
Elevator Picture Use
• Used for Luxation
and elevation of tooth
Straight • Mode of action:
Elevator Wedge and lever
principle.
• Fulcrum: Interdental
bone. Never use
adjacent tooth as
fulcrum to avoid its
luxation.
Elevators used with Teeth
2. Cryer’s elevators: In this type the working blades are sharp, These are
pair instrument mesial and distal (right & left).
Elevator Picture Use
• Used for Luxation and elevation of
remaining root of lower molars
Cryer’s (multirooted teeth) when only one
root is remaining (empty socket exist).
elevator
Contraindicated in maxilla.
• Mode of action: Wheel and axel.
• Point of application: Empty
socket.
Removal of
mesial root of a
lower first molar
Elevators used with Teeth
3. Cross-bar elevator: same that of Cryer’s elevator but the handle is in
right angle to the shank so it is called winter’s (T-bar), These are pair
instrument mesial and distal (right & left).
Elevator Picture Use
• Used for Luxation and elevation of
remaining root of lower molars
Cross-bar (multirooted teeth) when only one
root is remaining (empty socket
elevator
exist). Contraindicated in maxilla.
• Mode of action: Wheel and axel.
• Point of application: Empty
socket.
Elevators used with Teeth
4. Apexo elevators: The working blade is long, These are pair instrument
mesial and distal (right & left).
Elevator Picture Use
• Used for Luxation and
elevation of fractured roots of
Apexo all mandibular and posterior
maxillary teeth.
elevators
• Mode of action: wedge.
They are forced between the
root of the tooth and wall of
socket.
• Point of application:
mesial and distal parallel to the
long axis of the root.
Elevators used with Teeth
4. War-wick James elevators: It is a light duty elevator. It’s like Cryer’s
elevator, also we have two angled (mesial and distal) and one straight.
Elevator Picture Use
• Used for Extraction of
retained roots, deciduous teeth,
War-wick anterior lower teeth extraction,
and where there is less
James
resistance area. e.g. extraction
elevators of upper wisdom tooth.
• Mode of action: Wedge and
lever.
• Point of application:
mesial and distal at interdental
bone.
Removal of
deciduous molar roots
with a curved
Warwick James
elevator
Wheel and axle