Woodson Elevator: Guide to an Essential Dental Tool

Extraction is the most common and frequent procedure performed by dental surgeons. To carry out this procedure, they need two basic instruments, including dental elevators and extraction forceps. Tooth elevators are available in a wide range, each with certain specifications, such as Woodson Elevator.

This double-ended dental instrument is used for elevating, luxating, and separating teeth during the extraction procedure. Basically, it plays an important role in removing damaged or impacted teeth.

This guide will briefly discuss the Woodson tooth elevator, including its history, uses, and types. Besides, we will have a short overview of common dentistry elevators.
Let’s start with the history of elevator Woodson.

History of Woodson Elevators

In the 1940s, Dr. Woodson introduced this special tooth elevator. Owing to its unique design, it became popular among dental professionals.

Unlike other dental elevators, Woodson’s elevator features a thin, flat blade that allows it to access difficult-to-reach areas in the mouth. Over the years, various modifications have been made to the original design of the instrument, but the basic pattern remains the same.

Use Of Woodson Tooth Elevator

In dentistry, the Woodson elevators are helpful in

• Tooth elevation
• Tooth luxation
• Tooth separation from gums and roots
• Removal of damaged and impacted teeth
• Cutting the periodontal ligaments

Besides, the Woodson dentistry elevator is helpful in bone grafting procedures, as it creates space for the filling material.

In short, the instrument assists dental practitioners in cutting periodontal ligaments to loosen teeth, making the extraction procedure less traumatic.

Commonly Used Dental Elevators

There are several types of tooth elevators, each with unique structural features for a specific purpose. So the choice of the tooth elevator depends on the tooth extracted and the patient's individual requirements.

Elevator Woodson

The Woodson tooth elevator is one of the most common dentistry elevators. It has a long, narrow, curved blade with a pointed tip. This unique type of elevator is double-ended and features a knurled handle to ensure a non-slippery grip.

The ergonomic design of the Elevator Woodson allows it to be used in both the anterior and posterior regions of the mouth. It gently loosens and elevates the tooth from its socket by applying pressure to the periodontal ligament.Ludaman Elevator

Ludman elevator is another type of tooth elevator with a special design for molar extractions. It has a broader blade and a wider tip than the Woodson elevator, making it more suitable for molar teeth that have larger surface areas.

Barbed Elevator

The barbed elevator is helpful for the dentists to perform more challenging extractions. It features a serrated blade that helps grip the tooth and loosen it from the socket.

Luxator and Anglevator

The Luxating elevator or luxator is the advanced form of the standard elevator. It’s ideal for more delicate extractions. It has a finer blade that allows for more precise movements.

With the ergonomic tip of the luxator, dental professionals can luxate the tooth efficiently. It helps loosen the tooth gently from its roots, making the extraction procedure less painful.

On the other hand, Anglevator is the most advanced form of dentistry elevator. It is a six-in-one dental instrument. Its angled tip is helpful in luxating the teeth without damaging the nearby gums.

Apart from that, this innovative dental tool is known for its versatility and has become the prior choice of dental surgeons for extraction procedures.

Types of Woodson Elevator

In order to understand the different types of Woodson tooth elevators, it is important to comprehend their designs and functions.

Commonly, Woodson’s elevator has a thin, flat blade that separates the tooth from the socket, making extraction easier and atraumatic.

The important types of this special elevator include

Straight Woodson Elevator

The straight pattern of Woodson’s elevator is special for the initial separation of the tooth from the socket. The straight blade of the elevator is easily insertable between the tooth and the socket. Thus, it helps loosen the tooth from its attachment to the periodontal ligament.

Reverse Woodson Dental Elevator

The reverse Woodson elevator features a blade that curves away from the tooth. This design makes the tool ideal for separating teeth positioned at an angle. Moreover, it helps dentists access difficult-to-reach areas in the mouth. Actually, this type of elevator is useful for the dentists for creating space in the socket and facilitating tooth removal.

Bayonet Elevator Woodson

The Bayonet Woodson dentistry elevator has an angled and curved blade, making it ideal for separating teeth in the deeper sockets. Its specialty is to elevate the distal side of the molars.

In addition, it helps elevate the coronoid process during the removal of mandibular third molars.

Rounded Woodson Elevator

The rounded elevator Woodsen has a rounded blade that is ideal for separating teeth' root tips and elevating soft tissue. This type of elevator is also useful for separating the tooth from the socket in a gentle and controlled manner.

Final Thoughts

The above discussion helps conclude whether you need to separate a tooth from the socket, create space in the socket, or remove the root tips, a Woodson elevator is an excellent choice. It's an essential tool in dental practice, especially tooth extraction.

If you want to buy high-end Woodson Dental elevators or any kind of dental surgical instruments, visit GerDentUSA. They have a wide range of German stainless steel-made dentistry tools with customization options.