Basic dental instruments

Dental instruments are the tools that dental professionals use to

provide dental treatment. They include tools to examine, manipulate, restore
and remove teethand surrounding oral structures.
Standard instruments are the instruments used to examine, restore and
extract teeth and manipulate tissues.
The place where all the processes take place and all the instruments are used
is called the Dental Engine.
A dental engine is a large chair-side appliance (often including
the chair itself for use in a dentist!s office. At minimum, a dental engine
serves as a source of mechanical or pneumatic power for one or
more handpieces.
Typically, it will also include a small faucet and a spit-sink, which the
patient can use for rinsing, as well as one or more suction hoses, and
acompressed air"irrigation water
no##le for $lowing or washing
de$ris clear of the work area in
the patient!s mouth.
The e%uipment possi$ly includes
an ultrasonic cleaning appliance,
as well as a small ta$le to hold
the instrument tray, a worklight,
and possi$ly a computer monitor
or display.
The dental worklight is a
powerful halogen or &'D light,
concentrated in a small $eam of light
witch the dentist focuses on the
patient. (t offers the a $etter wiew
over the patient and eliminates the
shadows and the $lind-spots.
Examination tools allow the dental professional to manipulate tissues for
$etter visual access during treatment or during dental examination.
Dental mirrors are used $y
the dentist or dental auxiliary to view a mirror
image of the teeth in locations of the mouth
where visi$ility is difficult or impossi$le.
They also are used for reflecting light onto
desired surfaces, indirect vision, and with
retraction of soft tissues to improve access
or vision.
A dental explorer or sickle probe is
an instrument in dentistry commonly used in
the dental armamentarium. A sharp point at
the end of the explorer is used to enhance
tactile sensation.
The primary purpose of a periodontal
probe is to measure pocket depths around
a tooth in order to esta$lish the state of
health of the periodontium. There are
markings inscri$ed onto the head of the
instrument for accuracy and reada$ility.
A mouth prop is a wedge-shaped
implement used in dentistry for dentists
working with children and other patients who have
difficulty keeping their mouths open wide and steady
during a procedure, or during procedures where
the patient is sedated. (t has a ru$$er like texture
and is typically made from Thermoplastic
)ulcani#ate material.
Dental drills come in many varying types
which include* +igh speed air driven (also
known as an airotor, slow speed, friction grip,
surgical hand piece. Straight handpiece with a
sharp $ur.
Dental Burs cutting surface are either
made of a multifluted tungsten car$ide, a
diamond coated tip or a stainless steel multi
fluted rosehead. There are many different
types and classifications of $urs.