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Straight elevator
Also called: 301 elevator, elevator, luxator (similar)
A straight handle with a rounded, scooped blade used to loosen a tooth before forceps.
Elevators loosen (luxate) teeth before the forceps are used, which lowers the chance of breaking the tooth or bone. They work like levers and wedges. The straight elevator has a straight blade with a concave (scooped) side that faces the tooth.
How to spot it
- A thick pear-shaped handle and a straight shank ending in a rounded, scooped blade.
What it is used for
- Loosening teeth before forceps; lifting out roots.
Safety and care
- Critical item (it goes into soft tissue or touches bone): clean it, package it and heat-sterilize it after every patient.
Related
Sources: Majid M. Oral Surgery Lec. 4: Elevators. Al-Mustansiriyah University, CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)