The Evolution of Dental Forceps

Dental instruments have changed drastically since the earliest of times before there was a dental profession. In those early days, people would use whatever tools were available to perform a tooth extraction. The procedure was not only painful, but because formal dental education did not exist, additional damage occurred to the gum and bone.

With time, instruments specific to dental care, including dental forceps, were developed and they have evolved tremendously since their creation.

The Early Years of Dental Forceps

Extracting a tooth today is remarkably easier and less painful than it was hundreds of years ago. According to the American Dental Association, Hippocrates and Aristotle wrote about dental care as early as 500 B.C. when wire was used to stabilize loose teeth.

Some of the earliest records detail how a tooth extraction was performed with a tool like an old metal door key. Using this tool would damage gum, bone, and occasionally jaws were broken during the procedure. Dental keys eventually evolved to dental forceps, which are still in use today. The earliest dental forceps in the 17th century resembled a pair of pliers and then during the Civil War era, they featured a sharp “drill” in the center to get to the root. Since then, dental forceps are easier for the dentist to use and less painful on the patient.

Modern Day Forceps

Lessons have been learned from history and applied to today’s dental forceps. They now offer a variety of features that include an ergonomically designed handle to reduce hand fatigue, a tapered profile that wedges into the socket and fits on crowded teeth, and a greater serration pattern. Forceps are considerably lighter than the earliest versions and offer remarkable precision.

Modern dental forceps are also specifically designed to be used in pediatric dentistry. Because forceps have a long history of being traumatic on the patient and previously causing further damage, they are now specially designed to have significantly less fracture on the roots.

If you need new dental forceps, the experts at Karl Schumacher can help you find the right dental instrument to meet your practice’s needs. Contact our team today to learn more about our latest designs, including our RoBa™ and Aetranox™ Forceps.