Dental Tweezers & Tissue Forceps: Adson, DeBakey, College & More

Tweezers, forceps — what’s the difference?

In dentistry the terms overlap. Spring-handled instruments held like a pencil are commonly called tweezers, thumb forceps or tissue forceps. They are used to hold tissue, place and remove cotton, position dressings and handle small items. The catalogue name usually follows the pattern — for example, Adson and DeBakey are almost always listed as forceps, while College and dressing patterns are usually called tweezers or pliers.

Surgical (toothed) vs anatomic (non-toothed)

Surgical / tissue forceps have fine interlocking teeth (for example 1×2 teeth) that grip tissue securely with minimal pressure, so they are used when holding a flap or suturing. Anatomic / dressing forceps have serrated but non-toothed tips for atraumatic handling of delicate tissue and dressings.

Common patterns

• Adson — short, fine forceps ideal for handling oral soft tissue; available toothed or non-toothed.
• Adson-Brown — multiple fine teeth in two rows for a broad, gentle grip on flaps.
• DeBakey — atraumatic tips that hold tissue securely without crushing.
• College (cotton pliers) — angled tips for placing and removing cotton pellets and small items.
• Articulating-paper forceps — hold articulating paper steady when checking the bite.

Care and selection

Choose toothed patterns for secure tissue control and non-toothed patterns for delicate handling. Check that the tips meet precisely, and clean and autoclave after every use. Keeping a small selection covers most clinical needs.

Browse our dental tweezers and tissue forceps to find the patterns you use most.