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Dentistry vocabulary · Extractions, Oral Surgery and Anesthesia

Elevator

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈelɪveɪtər/nounCommon term

In dentistry, elevator means: A hand instrument with a narrow blade that is pushed between a tooth or root and the bone to loosen it, before forceps are used or instead of them.

In Turkish: elevatör, bein

How it is used

Dentists use an elevator to loosen (luxate) a tooth, lift out roots and remove wisdom teeth. Common types are straight, Cryer and Warwick James elevators. Luxators are a thinner, sharper relative.

Example sentences

  1. Use a straight elevator to loosen the tooth before you apply the forceps.

  2. The root tip came out easily with a small elevator.

Common collocations

  • straight elevator
  • use an elevator
  • Cryer elevator
  • luxate the tooth
  • forcepsA plier-like instrument used to grip a tooth and remove it from its socket. Different designs are made for upper and lower teeth and for each type of tooth.
  • extractionThe removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone. A simple one uses forceps and elevators; a surgical one may need a cut in the gum or removal of some bone.
  • impactedDescribes a tooth that cannot come through into its normal position because bone, gum or another tooth is in the way. Wisdom teeth and upper canines are most often affected.
  • wisdom toothThe third and last molar at the back of each side of both jaws. It usually comes through between the late teens and the mid-twenties and often lacks space to erupt properly.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Extractions, Oral Surgery and Anesthesia

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.