The 3 Common Dental Elevators; Coupland, Warwick and Triangular Elevator
Dental elevators are well-balanced dental instruments that are in routine use both for simple and complex surgical procedures.
Dental elevators are well-balanced dental instruments that are in routine use both for simple and complex surgical procedures. Simple means outer dental extractions and complex means for major dental operations located inside the bones or jaws. They have been used by dental surgeons for a long time and are evolving in terms of design and functionality with time. Despite their lengthy history, their purpose has been constant since the beginning. The most advanced of them is triangular elevator
They are single-bladed instruments designed for the procedure of extraction. They help in moving the tooth out of the socket aligning them along the natural curvature of the root to ease the process of surgery. Indeed, they facilitate the process of surgery.
How They Are Used
Oral surgery is very sensitive. Any negligence can cause serious complications. Here we will discuss how they are used in different ways:
Single
They can also be used alone for tooth or root removal. They are the hand tools of every dental clinic or hospital. For a routine extraction, a dentist uses his/her forefingers to support the elevator, so that it may not slip. If a dentist is highly experienced, he can use only an elevator to treat any dental disorder. As a surgeon, Sir Jone Tomes quoted,
“There is scarcely a root or even a tooth which cannot be removed by the elevator.’’
Combined
It is commonly used in combination with the forceps and luxators. Luxator is like an elevator but it has a sharper tip that can penetrate deep into cavities and forceps have a scissor-like structure and are used for grasping objects. For a general procedure, firstly, a luxator is applied to cut the inside membrane and dilate the socket. Then the elevator is used to expose the target area and in the end, forceps to remove the tooth.
Importance of Point of Application
For any dental treatment, the point of application is very critical. Any slight mistake can be the result of the crushing of bone and fracture of the jaw. It should be pre-planned which kind of elevator can be used and at which time. For the buried tooth, dental triangular elevator is the best instrument on which a dentist can rely.
Types
Elevators are categorized based on the name of their inventor.
1. Coupland Elevator
Inventor: Dr. Douglas C. W. Coupland
Design: It is a single-blade elevator with three different sizes. The handle is cylindrical or may be flat for a comfortable grip. The shank connects the handle with the blade and it is twisted differently to give different shapes.
Classification: Depending upon the position of their blade, they may be:
- Straight: At 90-degree position.
- Right: Slightly curved towards the right position.
- Left: Slightly curved towards the left position.
Use: It is used to expand the socket through wedging which is the placement of the blade of the elevator between the bone and the teeth along the axis of teeth. It may also be used as a pulley lever. And especially to be used in the space between the tooth and alveolar bone.
2. Warwick James Elevator
Inventor: William Warwick James
Design: It is available in pairs. It has no blade but an elevating tip. The handle is flat and broad with an ergonomic design. The shank is short and curved in different directions for different shapes.
Classification: They are classified based on the position of their elevating tip:
- Straight: At an angle of 90 degrees.
- Right: Turned towards the right.
- Left: Turned towards the left.
Use: The handle can rotate to lift the teeth from the socket. It works on the same principle as the Coupland elevator.
3. Cryer Elevator or Triangular Elevator
Inventor: Matthew H. Cryer
Design: It is also available in pairs; right and left. Its blade is triangular which gives it its unique name. The blade is sharp, pointed, and right-angled with the length of the elevator. It is like Warwick's triangular elevator but its large size blade makes it superior. The handle is broad and usually round. The shank is long and straight but not curved like the other two.
Classification: It is classified based on the position of the triangular blade:
- Left: On the left side of the shank.
- Right: On the right side of the shank.
Use: It is specifically used to perform extractions on buccal roots and molar teeth.
Conclusion
Elevators play a significant role in dental surgery. They are used in different ways, may be alone or accompanied by other instruments. They have different types based on their size, blade, and tip curve. They should be handled with great care to avoid any complications during the process.
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