Root elevators (also called dental elevators) loosen teeth and root remnants in the socket before they are removed with forceps or lifted out directly. Here you will find elevators after Bein, Flohr, Heidbrink, Cryer, Coupland, Winter, Seldin, Bernard, Lindo-Levien and Warwick James, apical root tip elevators as well as luxators, periotomes and desmotomes for gentle extraction. All instruments are made of stainless steel and autoclavable up to 134 °C.
Which root elevator for which use?
| Type | Shape | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Bein elevator | straight, grooved blade | loosening single-rooted teeth and roots, the standard elevator in every practice |
| Flohr root elevator | straight, curved right and left | root remnants and fractures, also in the posterior region |
| Heidbrink root elevator | very slim blade | root tips and small fragments deep in the socket |
| Cryer elevator | triangular blade, right/left pair | roots of multi-rooted lower molars via the empty neighbouring socket |
| Winter elevator | cross-bar handle, curved right/left | high leverage on molar roots |
| Coupland elevator | gouge-shaped, various widths | entering the periodontal space and luxating |
| Apical root tip elevators (301–303) | fine, straight and angled | fractured root tips |
| Luxators | thin, sharp blade | atraumatic extraction, preserving bone before implant placement |
| Periotomes and desmotomes | very thin blade | severing the periodontal ligament without leverage |
Root elevator, luxator or periotome?
A classic root elevator works with leverage: it is placed between the root and the socket wall and rotates the tooth out of its socket. A luxator, by contrast, has a thin, sharp blade that is pushed into the periodontal space and cuts the fibres. It is not used as a lever but guided with light pressure and rotating movements. Periotomes and desmotomes are even finer and are suitable when the buccal bone plate needs to be preserved for immediate implant placement.
What to look for when buying
- Blade width: narrow blades (1.5 to 3 mm) for anterior teeth and root tips, wider ones (4 to 5 mm) for premolars and molars.
- Shape: straight elevators for the anterior region, curved elevators and right/left pairs for the posterior region.
- Handle: solid stainless steel or lightweight plastic, both autoclavable.
- Sets: root elevator sets with 4 to 10 instruments cover the usual situations and cost less than buying individually.
Care and reprocessing
Clean the instruments immediately after treatment so that no blood or tissue residue dries on. Then reprocess them mechanically or manually and sterilise them in the autoclave at up to 134 °C. Luxators and periotomes lose sharpness over time and should be checked regularly and resharpened or replaced when needed.
See also: Extraction forceps, sinus lift instruments and periosteal elevators and excavators.
Frequently asked questions about root elevators
What is the difference between an elevator and a root elevator?
In everyday practice both terms refer to the same instrument. "Elevator" is often used for the larger Bein or Winter instruments, "root elevator" for all shapes that loosen teeth and root remnants.
Which root elevator is suitable for root tips?
Slim Heidbrink root tip elevators or the apical root elevators 301 to 303 are suitable for fractured root tips.
Why do you need right and left root elevators?
Curved elevators such as Flohr, Cryer or Winter come in pairs so that you can reach roots on both sides of the jaw and from mesial and distal at the right angle.
Are luxators suitable for beginners?
Yes, but they require patience: the blade is pushed slowly into the space and is not used as a lever. Using a luxator as a lever risks bending or breaking the thin tip.
Are the root elevators autoclavable?
Yes, all root elevators, luxators and periotomes at MedToolPro are made of stainless steel and autoclavable up to 134 °C.
