The history of commonly used dental elevators

Key Points The history of commonly used dental elevators is presented. The link from the origins of dental instruments to their modern equivalents and counterparts is demonstrated. An outline of the life, works and history of the men behind their eponymously titled instruments is presented. Further questions on this topic are posed to stimulate further interest. Despite the extensive and regular use of dental elevators on a daily basis in both general dental and specialist oral and maxillofacial surgical practice, little is known about the history and origins of such instruments and this remains an intriguing question. This question has been the basis for the following article, which gives a brief history of the instruments, discusses their eponymous origins and the history, life and works of the individuals they are named after. In-depth research has also raised other questions about such instruments that could be the focus for further study.