Abstract: A dental instrument having a unitary handle which includes a pair of elongated spaced apart arcuate grip portions. The grip portions are integrally connected to each other at a forward part of the handle and connected together at their rear ends by an integral rear part which extends transversely between the grips. A captive operating nut supported on the rear part is threadably engaged with an operating rod which extends longitudinally of the handle between and in spaced relation to the grips. The nut is operable to move an associated beak generally toward another opposing beak mounted in fixed position at the forward end of the handle. The movable beak may be pivotally supported on the forward part of the handle or may comprise a part of the operating rod.