TL;DR: Dental elevators and root tip picks are indispensable oral surgery instruments that every Canadian practice needs in its surgical tray. This guide covers elevator types, root tip pick designs, proper technique fundamentals, and how EBIKO Dental's Canadian-made instruments deliver the control and durability your surgical cases demand.
As of April 2026, oral surgery remains one of the most instrument-intensive procedures in general dentistry. Whether you are performing routine extractions in your Toronto practice or managing complex surgical cases across the GTA, the quality and variety of your elevators and root tip picks directly affect clinical outcomes, patient comfort, and procedure time. Understanding which instruments to reach for — and when — separates efficient surgical workflows from prolonged, frustrating cases.
Understanding Dental Elevators: Types and Applications
Dental elevators are wedge-shaped instruments designed to luxate teeth by expanding the periodontal ligament space and separating the tooth from surrounding alveolar bone. Unlike forceps, which grip and deliver, elevators create the initial mobility that makes forceps delivery controlled and predictable.
Every elevator has three components: a handle (providing grip and torque), a shank (connecting handle to blade and determining access angle), and a blade or tip (the working end that engages bone and tooth). The interplay between these elements determines which clinical situations each elevator handles best.
Straight Elevators
Straight elevators are the workhorse of the extraction tray. The blade aligns with the shank and handle, creating a direct line of force ideal for initial luxation of most teeth. You position the blade between the tooth root and alveolar bone at the mesial or distal aspect, then apply controlled rotational force to widen the periodontal ligament space.
EBIKO Dental's Bein Elevator is a classic straight elevator with a robust blade designed for significant luxation force. The Bein design features a slightly wider blade than standard straight elevators, giving you more surface area to engage the tooth and distribute force across a broader area of alveolar bone — reducing the risk of bone fracture during challenging extractions.
The Heidbrink Elevator offers a thinner, more delicate straight profile ideal for anterior teeth and premolars where access is tighter and surrounding bone is thinner. Its narrower blade allows precise placement in tight interproximal spaces without compromising adjacent teeth.
Pro Tip: When using a straight elevator, always use the adjacent tooth or alveolar ridge as a fulcrum — never the tooth being extracted. Position your non-dominant hand to protect adjacent structures and provide counter-pressure. The Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario (RCDSO) standards emphasize controlled force application during all surgical procedures.
Triangular and Cross-Bar Elevators
For impacted or partially erupted third molars, triangular elevators and cross-bar handle designs provide the mechanical advantage needed for deeper access and greater torque. The Winter cross-bar handle, available on EBIKO Dental's 11LX Elevator and 11RX Elevator, positions the handle perpendicular to the shank. This T-shaped configuration lets you generate controlled rotational force with less wrist strain — especially valuable during lengthy surgical cases.
The 11LX and 11RX designations indicate left and right angulation respectively, allowing you to approach mesial and distal roots from the optimal angle without compromising visibility or access.
Stout Elevators for Third Molars
Third molar extractions demand instruments specifically designed for deep access and curved root anatomy. EBIKO Dental's Stout Elevator and 11A Stout Elevator feature paired left and right angulations that follow the curvature of the mandibular ramus. The Stout design provides a broad, sturdy blade that engages the furcation area of multi-rooted molars effectively.
For practices in Vaughan, Scarborough, and Etobicoke handling a high volume of wisdom tooth referrals, having both the standard and 11A Stout elevators in your surgical tray eliminates the need to improvise with instruments not designed for the task.
Bernard Syndesmotome Elevators
The Bernard Elevator serves a dual purpose as both a syndesmotome (for severing the periodontal ligament attachment) and a traditional elevator. EBIKO Dental also offers the Siyah Bernard Syndesmotome Elevator in their premium Siyah series, featuring a black titanium nitride coating that reduces glare under operatory lighting and provides enhanced surface hardness for longer blade retention.
Using a Bernard elevator before applying forceps significantly reduces the force needed for tooth delivery, which translates to less post-operative discomfort and faster healing for your patients.
Root Tip Picks: Precision Retrieval Instruments
Root tip fractures during extractions are not a matter of if but when. Even experienced surgeons encounter fractured root tips, and having the right retrieval instruments immediately available prevents the situation from escalating into a prolonged surgical case.
Root tip picks feature fine, angled tips designed to engage and elevate small root fragments from the alveolar socket. Unlike elevators, which rely on wedging force, root tip picks work through precise tip placement and controlled leverage in confined spaces.
Davis Root Tip Picks
The Davis series remains one of the most popular root tip pick designs in Canadian dental practices. EBIKO Dental's Davis Root Tip Pick features a sharp, angulated tip that slides between the root fragment and socket wall. The Davis Double End and 11 Davis Double End Root Tip Pick provide two different angulations on a single instrument, reducing instrument changes during the procedure.
Pro Tip: When retrieving a fractured root tip, resist the urge to push the fragment apically. Instead, use a root tip pick to engage the fragment from the lateral aspect and lever it coronally. If the fragment is mobile but difficult to grasp, packing a small amount of gelatin sponge below the fragment can prevent apical displacement while you work.
Heidbrink Root Tip Picks
The Heidbrink Root Tip Pick features a thinner, more delicate tip profile compared to the Davis design. This makes the Heidbrink pick particularly useful for retrieving root tips in anterior sockets where bone is thin and the margin for error is small. The fine tip allows precise engagement without excessive bone removal.
Howard Root Tip Picks
For single-ended precision, the Howard Root Tip Pick provides a specific angulation optimized for posterior root tip retrieval. The Howard design features a slightly broader tip than the Heidbrink, offering more purchase on larger root fragments while maintaining the fine control needed for socket work.
West Root Tip Picks
The West Root Tip Pick rounds out EBIKO Dental's root tip pick lineup with yet another angulation option. Having multiple root tip pick designs available — Davis, Heidbrink, Howard, and West — ensures you have the right angle and tip size for any fragment retrieval scenario. In surgical cases where the fractured tip has rotated or displaced within the socket, being able to switch between angulations without leaving the operatory is a genuine clinical advantage.
The MacMillan Gouge Elevator: A Specialized Workhorse
The MacMillan Gouge Elevator occupies a unique niche in the surgical tray. Its gouge-shaped blade is designed to remove interradicular bone between roots of multi-rooted teeth, creating space for individual root elevation. In cases where a lower molar has divergent roots and sectioning is required, the MacMillan Gouge helps you clear the furcation area efficiently before elevating individual root segments.
Building Your Surgical Instrument Tray
For a general dental practice in Ontario performing routine and moderately complex extractions, a well-equipped surgical tray should include:
- Straight elevators: One Bein (for posterior teeth requiring significant force) and one Heidbrink (for anterior and premolar teeth)
- Paired angled elevators: Left and right cross-bar handle elevators (11LX and 11RX) for third molars
- Stout elevators: Paired left and right for mandibular third molars
- Root tip picks: Minimum of two designs — a Davis double-end for general fragment retrieval and a Heidbrink for delicate anterior work
- Syndesmotome: A Bernard elevator for periodontal ligament release prior to forceps application
All surgical instruments must be compatible with your infection prevention and control (IPAC) protocols. EBIKO Dental's elevators and root tip picks are manufactured from surgical-grade stainless steel that withstands repeated autoclave cycles at 134°C without blade degradation — a critical consideration for practices following RCDSO IPAC guidelines.
The Siyah Series Advantage
EBIKO Dental's Siyah series applies a black titanium nitride (TiN) coating to select instruments, including the Siyah Bernard Syndesmotome Elevator. This coating delivers three practical benefits:
- Reduced glare: The matte black finish eliminates light reflection under LED operatory lights, improving visual contrast during deep socket work
- Surface hardness: TiN coating increases blade surface hardness, extending the working life of cutting edges between sharpenings
- Easy identification: The distinctive black colour makes Siyah instruments immediately identifiable during tray setup and instrument counts
Instrument Care and Maintenance
Elevator blades and root tip pick tips lose their effectiveness with use. Dull blades require more force, increasing the risk of slippage, bone fracture, and soft tissue injury. Establish a sharpening schedule based on your case volume — practices performing 10 or more extractions per week should inspect and sharpen surgical instruments monthly.
After each use, follow your practice's IPAC protocol: enzymatic pre-soak, ultrasonic cleaning, inspection, packaging in sterilization pouches, and autoclave processing. EBIKO Dental's instruments are designed to maintain dimensional stability through repeated sterilization cycles, but visual inspection for corrosion, pitting, or blade deformation should be part of every reprocessing cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between a dental elevator and a root tip pick?
Dental elevators are designed to luxate intact teeth by wedging between the root and alveolar bone. They have broader blades and generate significant force. Root tip picks have fine, angled tips designed to retrieve small fractured root fragments from within the socket. Think of elevators as the primary luxation tool and root tip picks as the precision retrieval tool for complications.
Q: How many dental elevators does a general practice in Canada need?
A general dental practice performing routine extractions should stock a minimum of four to six elevators: at least one straight elevator, one pair of angled elevators for third molars, and one syndesmotome. Practices handling a higher volume of surgical extractions benefit from adding Stout elevators and a MacMillan gouge. EBIKO Dental offers individual instruments so you can build your tray based on your specific case mix.
Q: Can dental elevators be resharpened, and how often should they be sharpened?
Yes, stainless steel dental elevators can be resharpened using a fine Arkansas stone or ceramic sharpening system. Practices performing 10 or more extractions weekly should inspect elevator blades monthly and sharpen as needed. A sharp elevator requires less force, reduces procedure time, and improves patient outcomes. Replace instruments when blades show signs of metal fatigue, pitting, or corrosion that cannot be addressed through sharpening.
Shop dental elevators, root tip picks, and surgical instruments at EBIKO Dental — free shipping on orders over $99 CAD in the GTA, $199 CAD across Ontario, and $299 CAD Canada-wide. Price match guarantee on all instruments.