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Uses of Adson Tissue Forceps

If you've ever spent time in a dentist's chair, then you've probably seen Adson tissue forceps. This medical instrument actually looks like a pair of tweezers. The Adson forceps are held between the thumb and fingers, and use small, interlocking teeth to grip tissue. While there are a variety of uses for forceps in the medical field, Adson tissue forceps are used primarily in dentistry.

  1. Use #1: Holding Tissue In Place

    • There are multiple uses for Adson tissue forceps. Because they have small teeth designed for gripping tissue, these forceps are ideal for precise, delicate motions. One use for these forceps is holding tissue in place. Using the serrated edges on the forceps, a dentist or dental hygienist can use the forceps to hold tissue--such as the cheek or gum--in place during dental surgery. Because the Adson forceps have such a fine tip and small teeth, they do little to harm the tissue.

    Use #2: Exploratory Surgery

    • Adson Tissue Forceps can be handy for working around a patient's tongue

      Adson tissue forceps are also a key tool during dental surgery. Because of their small tip, they are easily used inside a patient's mouth. They can give a dentist access to small areas of the mouth by helping him work around larger mouth organs, like the tongue.

    Use #3: Moving Gauze Or Surgical Dressings

    • Because the human mouth is relatively small, it can be difficult for dental professionals to insert bulky dressings or gauze. Using your fingers can be both unsanitary and inconvenient. Adson tissue forceps can help by giving a dentist pinpoint accuracy in inserting or removing these medical dressings.

    Adson-Brown Tissue Forceps

    • Adson-Brown Tissue Forceps have shown promise in plastic surgery

      A sub-category of Adson tissue forceps is Adson-Brown tissue forceps. The Adson forceps have two teeth on one side of the instrument, and a single tooth on the other side. The Adson-Brown model has multiple fine teeth at the end of the tool. The uses for both models are similar, but Adson-Brown tissue forceps are also used in plastic surgery. The fine teeth on these forceps have shown promise in scoring cartilage in rhinoplasty (nose surgery) and otoplasty (ear surgery).

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