Which instrument is used to remove a tooth in one piece, with the crown and root intact?

• A. Surgical forceps
• B. Luxator
• C. Elevator
• D. Root tip pick

Answer: (A)

Removing a tooth in one piece with the crown and root intact depends on using an instrument that securely grips the tooth and allows controlled removal from the socket. Surgical forceps are designed to grasp the crown firmly and deliver the tooth with coordinated lifting, pressure, and slight rotation, which helps preserve the tooth structure and minimize trauma to surrounding tissues. Luxators and elevators are used beforehand to loosen the tooth by severing the periodontal ligament and widening the socket, but they are not the primary tools for extracting the tooth in one piece. A root tip pick, on the other hand, is intended to retrieve any remaining root fragments after extraction, not to extract a whole tooth. Thus, the instrument best suited for delivering the tooth intact is the surgical forceps.