When a silver point, a separated file or a loose fragment is sitting in the chamber, you need a forceps with a fine, secure beak that fits where fingers and cotton pliers cannot. That is the Stieglitz forceps — a small instrument that solves a stressful problem.
Stieglitz forceps are narrow-beaked locking forceps designed to grasp and remove objects from the pulp chamber and canal orifice — silver points, gutta-percha, separated instrument fragments, and other small debris. They are a quiet staple of the endodontic tray.
What makes Stieglitz forceps different
Ordinary cotton pliers are too bulky and don't lock. Stieglitz forceps have fine, short beaks that reach into the access cavity and a design that grips a small object securely so you can apply controlled traction. ErgoDenta makes them in two angulations:
- Straight — for anterior teeth and direct, in-line access.
- Angled 45° — for posterior teeth, where the beak must clear the cusps and reach around to the orifice.
When you reach for them
- Removing silver points once the coronal end is exposed.
- Retrieving a separated file or fragment that has been loosened and is sitting in the chamber or orifice.
- Grasping gutta-percha cones or carriers during retreatment.
- Holding small items precisely in a deep, narrow access cavity.
For fragments deeper in the canal, ErgoDenta also offers a long endodontic fragment forceps (60°) with an extended reach for posterior and apical-third retrieval where standard beaks cannot pass.
A note on technique
Retrieval works best when the fragment is first loosened and the coronal portion exposed — the forceps provides controlled traction, not brute force. Grip the most coronal part you can engage, apply steady tension along the long axis of the tooth, and avoid levering against the canal wall. Magnification and good light make the difference between a clean grab and repeated attempts.