American-pattern extraction forceps are identified by number, and this dental forceps chart shows which number fits which tooth — beak anatomy, hinge angle, and handle geometry all follow the tooth being extracted. This guide is a complete reference: it maps every common forceps number to its teeth, gives a quick 'which forceps for which tooth' lookup, covers the American vs. English (Ash) pattern split, and links each number to its German-made Helmut Zepf version, sold in the U.S. by Deutsche Dental Technologien — every forceps covered by our lifetime warranty.
Revised on October 1, 2026
Complete Extraction Forceps Numbers Chart
Upper (Maxillary) Forceps
| Number | Teeth | Design notes |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Upper central & lateral incisors and canines | Straight beaks meeting the long axis of anterior teeth; the classic upper anterior forceps |
| #150 | Upper incisors, canines, premolars and roots | The upper universal — S-curved beaks; Zepf's Cryer line adds diamond-coated, #150-A premolar and #150-AB variants |
| #10-S | Upper molars | Universal upper molar pattern with a rounded palatal beak and pointed buccal beak |
| #53-L / R | Upper first & second molars (left / right) | Side-specific — pointed buccal beak seats the two buccal roots, rounded palatal beak the single palatal root |
| #88-L / R | Upper first & second molars (left / right) | Nevius pattern — longer, more pointed buccal beak for deeper buccal-furcation engagement |
| #18-L / R | Upper molars (left / right) | Harris pattern side-specific upper molar forceps |
| #210-S | Upper third molars (wisdom teeth) | Beak angulation and offset built for posterior maxillary access |
| #64 / #65 | Upper incisors, roots and fragments | Fine bayonet-style beaks for retained upper roots and root tips |
Lower (Mandibular) Forceps
| Number | Teeth | Design notes |
|---|---|---|
| #151 | Lower incisors, canines, premolars and roots | The lower universal — beaks angled downward for mandibular access; Cryer line adds diamond-coated, #151-A and pediatric variants |
| #23 Cowhorn | Lower first & second molars | #23 'Cowhorn' — pointed beaks seat into the root bifurcation, converting grip force into elevating force |
| #17 | Lower molars (either side) | Right-angle beaks with matching bilateral points for routine lower molar removal |
| #217 | Lower molars | Alternative lower molar pattern with a broader beak profile |
| #222 | Lower third molars (wisdom teeth) | Short-handle, sharply angled beaks for posterior mandibular access |
Roots, Universal & Pediatric
| Number | Teeth | Design notes |
|---|---|---|
| #69 Tomes | Upper and lower roots and fragments | Tomes pattern — narrow serrated beaks that reach retained roots in either arch |
| Root Tip | Fractured roots and subcrestal fragments | RESCUE-LINE — anatomically curved fine beaks that grip fragments conventional forceps cannot |
| #101 Hull | Deciduous (primary) teeth | Hull pattern scaled for primary dentition |
| #150-S / AS | Primary upper teeth | #150-S / #150-AS — scaled beaks and handles for children and smaller mouths |
| #151-S / AS | Primary lower teeth | #151-S / #151-AS — pediatric lower universal |
English (Ash) Pattern
English (Ash) pattern forceps use straighter handles gripped in a different working position, are hinged vertically for the lower arch, and are numbered by the English system. Zepf carries the most-used English patterns, including Roba-Edition and Xcision-Line versions — browse the full Ash pattern extraction forceps collection:
Watch: Ash pattern (English pattern) forceps explained (4:17)
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 — Prices, 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 does it cost, and what happens if it fails? Standard Ash patterns start around two-thirty. Xcision-Line, two forty-five. Diamond coated, three hundred. exLOG, two-seventy — or three-thirty with diamond.
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.
| Number | Teeth | Design notes |
|---|---|---|
| #36 | Lower incisors and premolars | Far-reaching special beaks (#36, #36A, #36M, #36N variants) |
| #13 | Lower premolars | English premolar pattern; available diamond-coated and exLOG |
| #22 | Lower molars and wisdom teeth | English lower molar pattern; deep parallel-grip exLOG versions available |
| #73A | Lower molars | Cowhorn-style English pattern; beaks engage the furcation |
| #33A | Lower incisors, canines and roots | Narrow-beaked English anterior and root pattern |
| #74 | Lower roots | Fine English root forceps for retained mandibular roots |
| #59 | Lower root splinters | Fine-beaked root-splinter forceps |
| #33 | Children (pediatric) | Roba-design English pattern for primary teeth |
Which Forceps for Which Tooth (Quick Reference)
| Tooth | Upper (maxillary) | Lower (mandibular) |
|---|---|---|
| Incisors & canines | #1, #150 | #151, #36, #33A |
| Premolars | #150 (#150-A) | #151, #13 |
| First & second molars | #53, #88, #18, #10-S | #17, #23 cowhorn, #217, #22, #73A |
| Third molars (wisdom) | #210-S | #222 |
| Roots & fragments | #65, #69 | #69, #74, #59, RESCUE-LINE |
| Primary (deciduous) teeth | #150-S, #101 | #151-S, #33 |
Download this chart as a printable PDF
Beyond the Standard Numbers: ZEPF Innovation Lines
Zepf extends the classic patterns with purpose-built designs: the Xcision-Line® (also in sets) with beak geometry optimized for atraumatic technique, and the exLOG® + Roba Edition engineered for vertical extraction force along the long axis — the forceps expression of the socket-preservation philosophy behind the Benex® Extraction System. Browse the complete Dental Extraction Forceps & Tools collection, or the full American Pattern range.
Forceps Are Half the Story
Every extraction starts before the forceps: luxation and elevation determine how atraumatic the delivery is. See the companion Dental Elevator Types Guide for straight, apical, periosteal, and periotome selection — including the best-selling X-Tool Das Original! root tip elevator system. Reprocessing parameters for forceps are in the Surgical Instrument Sterilization Guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 150 and 151 forceps?
The #150 is the upper (maxillary) universal for incisors, canines, premolars, and roots; the #151 is its lower (mandibular) counterpart with beaks angled for mandibular access. Together they cover the majority of routine extractions.
Which forceps are used for upper molars?
Side-specific molar forceps: the #53 (left/right), #88 Nevius (left/right), and #18 Harris are the common upper molar patterns, with the #10-S as a universal option. The pointed buccal beak engages the two buccal roots and the rounded palatal beak the single palatal root.
Which forceps are used for lower molars?
The #17 (bilateral, either side) and the #23 cowhorn are the standard lower molar forceps; the #217 is an alternative pattern, and the English #22 covers lower molars and wisdom teeth. Cowhorn beaks seat into the root bifurcation to elevate the tooth.
What forceps are used for wisdom tooth extraction?
For upper third molars, the #210-S is designed for posterior maxillary access; for lower third molars, the #222 (short handle, angled beaks) and the English #22 are used. Impacted third molars often require surgical elevation before a forceps is applied.
What are cowhorn forceps used for?
Lower molars. The pointed #23 beaks seat into the bifurcation between the two roots, and squeezing the handles converts grip force into an elevating force that lifts the tooth from its socket.
Which forceps extract primary (baby) teeth?
Pediatric patterns: the #150-S / #150-AS for upper primary teeth, the #151-S / #151-AS for lower primary teeth, and the Hull #101 or English #33 for deciduous dentition — all scaled down for children and smaller mouths.
How do I identify an extraction forceps?
Read three things: the arch (upper beaks meet the handle nearly in line; lower beaks are set at roughly a right angle), the beak tips (rounded for single-rooted teeth, pointed for multi-rooted molars), and any left/right marking. The number stamped on the joint or handle then tells you the exact pattern — use the chart above to confirm the teeth.
What is the difference between American and English (Ash) pattern forceps?
Beak-to-handle geometry and grip position. American-pattern forceps are held palm-up or palm-down depending on arch with curved handles; Ash-pattern forceps use straighter handles and a vertical hinge for the lower arch. Both systems cover the same teeth — the choice follows training.
What do the letters after a Zepf forceps number mean?
On most Helmut Zepf part numbers, a trailing D means diamond-coated beaks and a Z means the Xcision-Line® version, so ZD is an Xcision-Line forceps with diamond-coated beaks. For example, the diamond-coated #151 Cryer is Zepf No. 14.151.00D and the English #22 Xcision-Line with diamond coating is 12.022.00ZD. The coating gives the beaks a textured surface that grips the tooth without slipping under load. Separately, -S and -AS on the pattern number (#150-S, #151-AS) mark pediatric sizes, and L / R mark left- and right-side upper molar forceps.
Do extraction forceps come with a warranty?
Every Helmut Zepf extraction forceps we sell carries a lifetime warranty — German-forged surgical stainless steel, made in Seitingen-Oberflacht since 1921. Deutsche Dental Technologien backs the entire line; see our About Us page for the complete warranty and returns policy.
Part of our Extraction Forceps & Elevators hub.
