American Pattern Extraction Forceps

Which American Pattern Extraction Forceps Do You Need?

Find the tooth group first, then the pattern number; every active product in the collection is linked once below, and the Use column repeats the indication named in each product title.

Upper incisors, canines and roots

Zepf No.	Pattern or size	Use
14.001.00	Standard #1	Upper centrals and canines
14.001.01	Henahan #1-A	Upper incisors and roots
14.065.00	#65	Upper incisors and roots

Upper molars and third molars

Zepf No.	Pattern or size	Use
14.010.09	#10-S	Upper molars
14.010.11	#10-AS	Upper molars
14.018.15	Harris #18-L	Upper molars, left side
14.018.16	Harris #18-R	Upper molars, right side
14.053.15	#53-L	Upper molars, left side
14.053.16	#53-R	Upper molars, right side
14.088.15	Nevius #88-L	Upper molars, left side
14.088.16	Nevius #88-R	Upper molars, right side
14.210.05	#210-S	Upper third molars

Lower molars and third molars

Zepf No.	Pattern or size	Use
14.017.00	Standard #17	Lower molars, either side
14.217.00	#217	Lower molars
14.222.00	#222	Lower third molars
14.222.11	#222-AS	Lower third molars
14.023.00	Cowhorn #23	Lower molars
14.023.50	Cowhorn #23	Lower molars

Cryer #150 and #151

Zepf No.	Pattern or size	Use
14.150.00	Cryer #150	Upper incisors, premolars and roots
14.150.00D	Cryer #150, diamond coated	Upper incisors, premolars and roots
14.150.10	Cryer #150-AB	Upper teeth
14.151.00	Cryer #151	Lower incisors, premolars and roots
14.151.00D	Cryer #151, diamond coated	Lower incisors, premolars and roots
14.151.01	Cryer #151-A	Lower incisors, premolars and roots
14.151.10	#151-AB	Lower teeth

Roots and serrated grips

Zepf No.	Pattern or size	Use
14.069.00	Tomes #69	Upper and lower roots
14.089.00	#89, serrated grips	Not stated in product title
14.090.00	#90, serrated grips	Not stated in product title

Pediatric and deciduous teeth

Zepf No.	Pattern or size	Use
14.150.05	Cryer #150-S, pediatric	Upper teeth, children
14.150.11	#150-AS, pediatric	Upper teeth, children
14.150.11D	#150-AS, pediatric, diamond coated	Upper teeth, children
14.151.05	Cryer #151-S, pediatric	Lower teeth, children
14.151.11	#151-AS, pediatric	Lower teeth, children
14.151.11D	#151-AS, pediatric, diamond coated	Lower teeth, children
14.101.00	Hull #101	Deciduous teeth

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.

Design and Construction

Each instrument in this collection follows the classic American Pattern geometry, characterized by its distinctive angled beaks and offset handle design. This configuration allows for optimal access to both anterior and posterior regions of the oral cavity, minimizing patient discomfort while maximizing the clinician's leverage and grip. Handles are typically crafted from high-grade stainless steel, ensuring durability, resistance to corrosion, and straightforward sterilization using standard autoclave protocols.

Comprehensive Range of Instruments

The Extraction Forceps American Pattern collection encompasses a full range of instrument types, each designed for specific tooth groups and anatomical considerations. Whether you require forceps for maxillary incisors, mandibular molars, upper premolars, or primary teeth, this collection provides the right instrument for every clinical scenario. Selecting the appropriate design ensures minimal soft tissue trauma and a more controlled extraction technique.

Clinical Benefits

• Ergonomic handle geometry reduces hand fatigue during prolonged procedures
• Precisely contoured beaks conform to natural root anatomy for secure engagement
• Robust stainless steel construction supports repeated sterilization cycles
• Consistent instrument balance promotes a controlled, efficient extraction
• Wide variety of patterns accommodates the full spectrum of extraction cases

Who Should Use This Collection

The Extraction Forceps American Pattern instruments are suited for general dental practitioners, oral surgeons, and specialist clinicians who perform routine and complex extractions. Their standardized design is widely recognized across dental schools and clinical settings in North America and beyond.

History: Who Invented the American Pattern Extraction Forceps?

Before the mid-nineteenth century, tooth extraction relied on the dental key — a lever-action instrument prone to fracturing roots and jaws. That changed with Sir John Tomes (1815–1895), the English dental surgeon who, while house surgeon at Middlesex Hospital in the late 1830s, designed forceps with beaks shaped to the anatomy of individual tooth necks rather than a single all-purpose claw. By 1900 his approach had made the dental key obsolete, and American manufacturers and dental colleges spent the following decades adapting it into the heavier-built, more angled beak-and-handle geometry known today as the American Pattern — the family of instruments in this collection.

Collections in this family

Each pattern number also has its own collection page:

Upper teeth

Pattern	What it covers
#1	Standard #1 and Henahan #1-A for upper centrals, incisors and roots
#10	#10-S and #10-AS forceps for upper molar extractions
#18	Harris #18-L and #18-R for upper molars, left and right
#53	#53-L and #53-R forceps for upper molars, left and right
#210	#210-S forceps for upper third molar (wisdom tooth) extractions
#65	#65 forceps for upper incisors and roots

Lower teeth

Pattern	What it covers
#17	Standard #17 forceps for lower molars, usable on either side
#217	Helmut Zepf #217 forceps for lower molar extractions
#222	#222 and #222-AS forceps for lower third molars

Roots and serrated grips

Pattern	What it covers
#69	Tomes #69 forceps for upper and lower root extractions
#89	#89 forceps with serrated grips, Helmut Zepf No. 14.089.00
#90	#90 forceps with serrated grips, Helmut Zepf No. 14.090.00

Clinical Use

The collection covers forceps extraction across both arches: Standard #1, Henahan #1-A and #65 for upper incisors, canines and roots; #10, Harris #18, #53, Nevius #88 and #210-S for upper molars and third molars; #17, #217, #222 and Cowhorn #23 for lower molars and third molars; the Cryer #150 and #151 families for upper and lower incisors, premolars and roots; Tomes #69 for upper and lower roots; #89 and #90 with serrated grips; and pediatric #150 and #151 versions plus Hull #101 for children and deciduous teeth, with the tooth group named in each product title.

Care and Reconditioning

Clean, inspect and sterilize Helmut Zepf extraction forceps after every use according to your practice infection control protocol; our Surgical Instrument Reprocessing & Sterilization Guide covers the general workflow. Forceps with worn or misaligned beaks can be sent to our sharpening and reconditioning service.

Compare With

Related Helmut Zepf collections: Upper Dental Extraction Forceps, Lower Dental Extraction Forceps, Pediatric Extraction Forcep Collection, Ash Dental Extraction Forceps, Tooth Extraction Forceps Xcision-Line® Roba Edition, and Dental Elevators. For forceps numbers and terminology, see the Surgical Instrument Comparison Chart and the Surgical Instrument Glossary.

Technical references: Extraction Forceps Numbers Guide · Surgical Forceps Identification Guide

FAQ

What distinguishes the American Pattern from other forceps designs? The American Pattern features a distinctive handle-to-beak angle and broader grip area compared to English or other international patterns, offering a different mechanical advantage suited to a range of clinical preferences.

Are these forceps compatible with standard autoclave sterilization? Yes. Instruments in this collection are constructed from surgical-grade stainless steel and are fully compatible with standard steam autoclave sterilization cycles.

How do I select the correct forceps for a specific tooth? Selection is based on tooth position, root morphology, and arch location. Refer to the individual product specifications within this collection to match the instrument to the intended clinical application.

Further reading: 150 Extraction Forceps: Upper Universal Tooth Removal – German Pattern Advantage · #23 Cowhorn Extraction Forceps: Mastering Mandibular Molar Extractions with Prec