Ash Dental Forceps – Ash Pattern (English Pattern) Extraction Forceps

Ash Dental Forceps – Ash Pattern (English Pattern) Extraction Forceps

Ash dental forceps — the Ash pattern, also called the English pattern — are the vertically hinged extraction forceps used for lower-arch extractions. Every Ash pattern forcep in this collection is manufactured by Helmut Zepf in Germany and sold in the U.S. by Deutsche Dental Technologien. The vertical hinge lets the operator apply controlled apical force from above the tooth, which is why this design has remained the standard for lower incisors, canines, premolars, molars and root tips for well over a century.

View as

Ash Pattern Forceps Overview Video

Watch on YouTube · how the Ash numbers map to teeth, Ash vs American pattern, and what Xcision-Line®, Roba-Edition and exLOG® add.

Chapters
  • 0:00 — Same tooth, two forceps: Ash vs American pattern
  • 0:39 — How the Ash numbers read
  • 1:38 — Xcision-Line
  • 1:58 — Roba-Edition by Dr. Manfred Beck
  • 2:23 — exLOG: deep, parallel grip
  • 2:54 — Beak surfaces: stainless, diamond coated, Onyx
  • 3:22 — Pricing, lifetime warranty, 60-day returns
  • 4:03 — German-made Helmut Zepf at DeutscheDT.com
Full transcript

Same tooth. Two forceps. Two completely different hands.

If you learned on American pattern, the one-fifty-one is your lower universal. Curved handles. Beaks angled down. Palm wrapped around the grip. Ash pattern — that's the English pattern — does the same job with a different geometry. Straighter handles. A hinge set up for the lower arch. Your hand sits above the tooth, and the force goes straight down the long axis. Neither one is “right.” Your hands already know which one they like.

Okay — the numbers. Ash has its own system, so here's the map.

Thirteen: lower premolars. Twenty-two: lower molars and wisdom teeth. Thirty-six: lower incisors, with far-reaching beaks. The A, M, and N versions tune that reach for incisors and premolars. Thirty-three A: lower incisors, canines, and roots, on a narrow beak. Seventy-three A: the English cowhorn. The beaks drop into the furcation and turn your grip into lift. Seventy-four and fifty-nine: fine root and root-splinter forceps, for whatever got left behind. And a pediatric set — thirteen, twenty-two, thirty-three — scaled down for primary teeth and small mouths.

Now the part that's specific to Helmut Zepf. Most of the range carries the Xcision-Line mark. That's Zepf's extraction line: beak geometry refined for atraumatic technique, forged in Seitingen-Oberflacht, Germany — where they've been making these since nineteen twenty-one.

Inside that line is the Roba Edition, developed with Doctor Manfred Beck. The thirteen, twenty-two, thirty-six N and thirty-six M come “modified.” The beaks are re-cut for a more secure grip and more controlled force on the root... so you're less likely to fracture the thing you're trying to deliver.

Then there's exLOG. Look at the beaks. They're built for a deep, parallel grip. You engage the root further down, and the beaks stay parallel to the long axis as you close. Force goes down the root. Not across it. That's the forceps version of socket preservation — pull along the axis, keep the buccal plate. Available as thirteen, twenty-two, thirty-six N, and thirty-six M.

Beak surfaces come three ways. Plain surgical stainless — the classic. Diamond coated — a textured diamond surface that bites into the tooth, so the beaks don't slide under load. And Onyx — a black coating on the Roba editions. Lower friction, and it holds up through sterilization cycle after cycle. Same pattern number. Your choice of grip surface.

So what about pricing, and what happens if it fails? Standard Ash patterns, Xcision-Line, diamond coated and exLOG versions are all listed with current pricing on each product page.

Every single one carries a lifetime warranty. If a Zepf forceps ever fails from a defect in materials or workmanship, we repair or replace it. For life. And there's a sixty-day return. Put it to work. If it's not right for your hands, send it back for a full refund... even if you've used it.

German-made Helmut Zepf Ash pattern forceps — Xcision-Line, Roba Edition, exLOG — in stock in the U.S. at DeutscheDT.com. The full numbers guide is linked below.

Which Ash Pattern Forceps Do You Need?

Find the Ash pattern number for the tooth group first, then the version (Xcision-Line®, diamond coated, Roba-Edition with Onyx coating, exLOG® or pediatric); every active product in the collection is linked once below by its Zepf number.

#13 lower premolars

Zepf No. Pattern or size
12.013.00Z #13 Lower Premolars, Xcision-Line®
12.013.00ZD #13 Lower Premolars, Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated
12.213.00ZD #13 - Modified, Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Premolars, Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated Jaws
12.213.00ZTI #13 Modified - Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Premolars, Xcision-Line®, Onyx Coating
15.213.00 exLOG® #13, Lower Premolars Special Beaks for Deep and Parallel Grip
15.213.00D exLOG® #13, Lower Premolars Special Beaks for Deep and Parallel Grip Diamond Coated

#22 lower molars and wisdom teeth

Zepf No. Pattern or size
12.022.00Z #22 Lower Molars and Wisdom Teeth Xcision-Line®
12.022.00ZD #22 Lower Molars and Wisdom Teeth Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated
12.222.00ZD #22 Modified - Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Molars and Wisdom Teeth Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated Jaws
12.222.00ZTI #22 Modified, Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Molars and Wisdom Teeth Xcision-Line®, Onyx Coating
15.222.00 exLOG® #22 Special Beaks for Deep and Parallel Grip
15.222.00D exLOG® #22 Special Beaks for Deep and Parallel Grip Diamond Coated

#33A lower incisors, canines and roots

Zepf No. Pattern or size
12.033.01Z #33A Lower Incisors, Canines and Roots, Xcision-Line®
12.033.01ZD #33A Lower Incisors, Canines and Roots, Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated

#36 family: lower incisors and premolars

Zepf No. Pattern or size
12.036.00Z #36 Lower Incisors, Special Beaks, Far Reaching, Xcision-Line®
12.036.00ZD #36 Lower Incisors, Special Beaks, Far Reaching, Xcision-Line® Diamond Coated
12.036.01Z #36A Lower Incisors Special Beaks, Far Reaching, Xcision-Line®
12.036.01ZD #36A Lower Incisors Special Beaks, Far Reaching, Xcision-Line® Diamond Coated
12.036.07Z #36N Lower Incisors and Premolars Special Beaks, Far Reaching, Xcision-Line®, Secure-Line
12.036.08Z #36M Lower Incisors and Premolars Special Beaks, Far Reaching, Xcision-Line®, Secure-Line
12.236.07Z #36N Modified, Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Incisors and Premolars, Xcision-Line®
12.236.07ZD #36N Modified, Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Incisors and Premolars, Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated Jaws
12.236.07ZTI #36N Modified, Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Incisors and Premolars, Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated Jaws, Onyx Coating
12.236.08Z #36M Modified, Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Incisors and Premolars, Xcision-Line®
12.236.08ZD #36M Modified, Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Incisors and Premolars, Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated Jaws
12.236.08ZTI #36M Modified, Roba-Edition By Dr. Manfred Beck, Lower Incisors and Premolars, Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated Jaws, Onyx Coating
15.236.07 exLOG® #36N
15.236.07D exLOG® #36N Diamond Coated Jaws
15.236.08 exLOG® #36M
15.236.08D exLOG® #36M Diamond Coated Jaws

#73A molars, #74 roots and #59 root splinters

Zepf No. Pattern or size
12.073.01Z #73A Lower Molars, Xcision-Line®
12.073.01ZD #73A Lower Molars, Xcision-Line®, Diamond Coated
10.074.91 #74, for Lower Roots
12.059.00Z #59 Xcision-Line®

Pediatric (#13, #22, #33)

Zepf No. Pattern or size
10.685.13 #13 for Children (Pediatric), Roba Design
10.685.13ZD #13 for Children (Pediatric), Roba Design, Diamond Coated
10.685.22 #22 for Children (Pediatric), Roba Design
10.685.22ZD #22 for Children (Pediatric), Roba Design, Diamond Coated
10.685.33ZD #33 for Children (Pediatric), Roba Design, Diamond Coated
10.681.13 for Children (Pediatric), without Spring, #13
10.681.22 for Children (Pediatric), without Spring, #22
10.681.33 for Children (Pediatric), without Spring, #33

Lifetime Warranty

Every dental extraction forcep in this collection is backed by a Lifetime Warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the instrument. This coverage is exclusive to the Helmut Zepf dental extraction forcep category.

What are Ash dental forceps?

Ash dental forceps are the English-pattern extraction forceps for the lower arch. The hinge is set so the beaks sit close to the handles and the operator's hand works from above the tooth, directing force straight down the long axis of the root. American-pattern forceps such as the #151 lower universal use curved handles with the beaks angled away from the grip, so the hand works in front of the tooth; both patterns serve the same lower teeth, but the Ash range uses its own numbering. Every Ash pattern forcep in this collection is made by Helmut Zepf in Germany; the base stainless-steel models are listed below, and most are also offered with Xcision-Line®, diamond-coated, Onyx-coated, Roba-Edition and exLOG® jaws.

Not sure which number you need? See the Dental Extraction Forceps Numbers Guide, or compare the American pattern extraction forceps if your hands are trained on that design.

Ash Pattern Numbers: Which Forceps for Which Tooth

Ash pattern forceps are identified by number. Find the teeth you extract most, then shop that pattern — standard, Xcision-Line®, diamond-coated, Onyx-coated, Roba-Edition, exLOG® or pediatric.

Ash pattern number collections

Pattern Teeth Shop
#13 Lower premolars Shop the Collection
#22 Lower molars and wisdom teeth Shop the Collection
#33A Lower incisors, canines and roots Shop the Collection
#36 / #36A Lower incisors (far-reaching special beaks) Shop the Collection
#36N / #36M Lower incisors and premolars (far-reaching special beaks) Shop the Collection
#59 Lower root splinters Shop the Collection
#73A Lower molars (cowhorn-style beaks) Shop the Collection
#74 Lower roots Shop the Collection
#13 Pediatric Lower premolar region (primary molars) Shop the Collection
#22 Pediatric Lower primary molars Shop the Collection
#33 Pediatric Lower primary incisors and roots Shop the Collection

For the full cross-reference of Ash, American and European forceps numbering, see our Dental Extraction Forceps Numbers Guide; competitor part numbers are in the Surgical Instrument Comparison Chart.

Design and Construction

Each Ash pattern forcep is forged from high-grade stainless steel for long service life and full compatibility with standard sterilization protocols, including autoclaving. Beaks are shaped to the anatomy of each tooth group to maximize grip, minimize the risk of crown fracture and reduce soft-tissue trauma. Many patterns are offered with diamond-coated jaws for a more secure hold on the root surface, and Xcision-Line® versions add refined beak geometry for atraumatic technique.

Range and Versatility

The Ash range covers lower incisors, canines, premolars, molars, wisdom teeth and root tips, plus pediatric patterns for primary dentition. Whether you work in general practice or an oral surgery setting, there is an Ash pattern forcep matched to the extraction in front of you.

History: Who Invented the Ash Dental Extraction Forceps?

The Ash name traces to Claudius Ash (1792–1854), a London goldsmith who was asked around 1820 to craft a set of dentures and went on to found what became Britain's foremost manufacturer of dental instruments and appliances. His porcelain-on-gold denture teeth displaced the ivory and extracted human teeth then in common use, and by the mid-nineteenth century his firm, Claudius Ash & Sons, dominated the European dental trade before merging in 1924 into the Amalgamated Dental Company. The extraction forceps that carry his name are part of that long London instrument-making lineage, which is why the same design is known as the English pattern.

Collections in this family

Upper teeth

Lower teeth

Clinical Use

The collection covers forceps extraction in the lower arch: #13 patterns for lower premolars, #22 for lower molars and wisdom teeth, #33A for lower incisors, canines and roots, the #36 family for lower incisors and premolars, #73A for lower molars, #74 for lower roots and #59 for root splinters, plus pediatric #13, #22 and #33 forceps for primary teeth, with the tooth group named in each product title.

Care and Reconditioning

Clean and decontaminate after each use, inspect the beaks for wear or damage, and store the instrument so the hinge is protected. With correct maintenance these forceps deliver consistent performance over an extended service life.

Our Surgical Instrument Reprocessing & Sterilization Guide covers the general workflow for Helmut Zepf extraction forceps.

Compare With

Related Helmut Zepf collections: Lower Dental Extraction Forceps, Tooth Extraction Forceps Xcision-Line® Roba Edition, exLOG® Extraction Forceps, Pediatric Extraction Forceps, Upper Dental Extraction Forceps, and American Pattern Extraction Forceps. For forceps numbers and terminology, see the Extraction Forceps Numbers Guide, the Surgical Forceps Identification Guide and the Surgical Instrument Glossary.

Ash pattern extraction forceps made in Germany by Helmut Zepf

FAQ

What is the difference between Ash pattern and English pattern forceps? There is none — they are two names for the same vertically hinged lower-arch forceps design, named for Claudius Ash's London firm.

Are Ash pattern forceps for upper or lower teeth? Lower teeth. The vertical hinge is designed for applying force downward onto the mandibular arch. For upper teeth, see our upper extraction forceps.

Are Ash pattern extraction forceps single-use or reusable? They are reusable instruments and fully compatible with standard autoclave sterilization cycles.

What materials are they made from? High-grade stainless steel for corrosion resistance and durability under repeated sterilization. Diamond-coated and Onyx-coated jaw options are available on most patterns.

Who manufactures and sells these forceps? They are manufactured by Helmut Zepf in Germany and sold in the U.S. by Deutsche Dental Technologien, backed by the Lifetime Warranty above — see our About Us page for the full company story and warranty details.

Further reading: Ash Dental Extraction Forceps: Ultimate Buying Guide for 2026

Part of the Dental Extraction Forceps & Tools hub.

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