Do the appearance and sound of dental equipment seem frightening? When you walk into your dentist’s office, the noise of a drill or a device’s sharp hook may send chills down your spine. These sounds can even cause some of you to fear the dentist, making for an unpleasant trip each time you go.
However, there are methods to remedy the situation. Knowing what each tool does makes you less anxious whenever your dentist brings these instruments near your mouth. Once you recognize the basic dental instruments kept on your dentist’s tray – you will also appreciate how they aid in your teeth and gum issues.
Do you need a quick refresher on your dentist’s standard dental instruments? Here is an overview of some of the regularly used dental instruments. This guide will help you understand essential dental and medical equipment. This knowledge will also assist in calming your nerves and putting your mind at ease once you know what they do in your mouth.
Importance of Dental Instruments
These dental instruments are designed such that your dentist and staff may use them during dental care. These instruments aid in the treatment and assessment of your dental disease. Each one of them is designed for a specific purpose.
Most of these different dental instruments are used by dentists and oral health care professionals in their different roles and specialties. Some of these types of instruments are unique to several therapeutic procedures.
It is no surprise that dentists and other dental specialists today use so many dental instruments and machines that serve different treatments and procedures. If you frequently visit your dentists during your scheduled appointments, you may easily spot some of the tools they present on their dental trays.
But because we do not get to see how they use them, we tend to become more curious about what they call these instruments and how they use them?
What Are The Different Dental Instruments?
1. Mouth Mirror
You might agree that it is the least scary of all the dental instruments, but it is the most important of the complete set. The mouth mirror is primarily a tiny mirror attached to a metal stick. The primary purpose of this instrument is two-fold.
Firstly, your dentist will use a mouth mirror to view places in your mouth that ordinarily would take an effort to see inside the mouth. This dental instrument quickly helps find tooth decay or other potential dental problems inside your mouth. Without this tool, it would otherwise go undetected.
Secondly, your dentist will use the mouth mirror to move your tongue or push the inside of your cheek without using their hands.
So it is a tool your dentist will often use to indirect vision and retract lips, tongue, and cheeks. They will also use the tool to redirect light into your mouth. The name is pretty easy to remember as it is a mirror in the mouth.
2. Sickle Probe or Dental Explorer
Like a mouth mirror, dental sickle, and scalers – a sickle probe is known as a dental explorer. One of those scarier dental tools, beneficial in finding signs of gum disease or cavities.
This dental instrument has a sharp-looking hook on the ends and a long handle. It is primarily used to explore the pockets between your teeth. At the same time, your dentist will also use it to scrape away the deposited plaque and tartar on your teeth’ surface.
If you have a visible tooth cavity, your dentist might also use a sharp tip to investigate. It may look medieval, but it is a necessary tool for preventative dentistry.
3. Saliva Ejector or Suction Device
Unlike some of the other dental instruments, a saliva ejector is easier to deal with and is not very scary. When your dentist examines your teeth, they often need a dry surface.
A suction device is a long tube attached to a vacuum in such a case. Your dentist will use the device to remove the excess saliva from your mouth.
When your dentist uses the device you might hear some vacuum sounds and feel the ejector stick to your tongue or cheek. But relax, there is nothing that you should fear. During your procedure at the dental clinic, your dentist will frequently use this dental instrument. They will regularly instruct you to close your mouth in order to help the device clear the accumulated saliva and water.
4. Scaler
A sickle probe can effectively remove small areas of tartar and plaque buildup on the teeth’ surface. Scalers are vital for removing a more significant buildup.
Note that patients who require scaling have more significant periodontal disease issues. Only in such cases will your dentist use this tool. Everyone experiences some form of plaque buildup. Tiny particles like acids and sugars stick to your teeth when you eat or drink, and bacteria start forming.
These harmful bacteria eventually cause tooth decay if not cleaned properly. Regular brushing and flossing will help remove most of this plaque. You might need additional removal sometimes. Your dentist will use a scaler to easily scrape off excess plaque. Though the process is not necessarily comfortable, it may prevent you from losing your teeth to decay in the future.
5. Dental Drill
Is the dental drill the most feared of all tools? The sound of the drill is enough to send some people into a frenzy.
Your dentist will only use this tool to deal with cavities. It means the acuteness of the dental cavities will govern your dentist’s choice of dental devices.
But note that the dental drill is the most effective way to remove decay before filling the cavity. This electric drill spins at approx 250,000 rpm while shooting water into your mouth. If the drill did not administer water, it might get hot enough and cause damage to the tooth.
Many of you might think that the dental drill can feel uncomfortable because of vibrations. But it is usually not painful when your dentist gives you a local anesthetic.
6. Dental Syringe
Speaking of anesthetics, yes your dentist will use the dental syringe to deliver the numbing blow to the area in your mouth before a procedure. These syringes are usually a bit longer than a typical needle or syringe. Using it your dentist can hit the correct spot while administering the anesthetic.
As done with a shot, the initial injection may cause discomfort for a moment. But the zone is quickly numbed by the anesthetic. If you are a bit uncomfortable around needles, the best option is not to look at them.
Just stay cool. It happens so quickly that it is nothing you should actually fear. Today, most dentists administer a topical anesthetic before using the dental syringe – probably to dull out the initial needle prick.
7. Molds
If you need a cap, mouthguard, or crown, your dentist might have to get a mold for your teeth. These molds are simply small frames filled with a soft substance. It is then placed in your mouth.
These frames provide the perfect shape for your teeth when you bite down. The molding material does not taste great. But it is something you should tolerate for a few seconds. Some dentists today even have flavored versions available for kids of all ages.
Now that you know something about these dental instruments that go into routine dental practices, you do not have to hide under a blanket due to fear.
8. Periodontal Probe
Your dentist will use this dental instrument to measure periodontal pocket depth in millimeter increments. In Greek root for “peri” means something related to bone or the tissue around your tooth. Hence the name. It is a device your dentist will use to evaluate the state of your mouth.
9. Spoon Excavators
Your dentist will use the tool to remove small amounts of decay close to the nerve. They will use a dental drill to prick out enamel cavities. You should note that the cavities extend down from the enamel to the pulp.
The material in your tooth cavity is soft. Therefore no drill is required. Your dentist will only use a spoon excavator to remove such decay.
As you might be aware, intensive tooth cavities destroy your tooth’s structure making it soft and feeble. When these cavities are quite deep, your dentist will scoop out the delicate diseased part of the tooth. It can only be done using these spoon excavators.
10. Extracting Forceps
This dental instrument can help remove your damaged teeth. All of us know that forceps are for grabbing things. So the most important thing to remember is extraction. It comes from the Latin word “to dig or pull out”.
11. Burnisher
Your dentist will use burnishers towards the end of a procedure. The device helps smooth and polish your teeth. The tool also helps remove scratches. After the primary process or dental restorations, your dentist will use it to tidy up the tooth.
12. X-ray
At times the tooth problem might not be fully apparent. In such a scenario, your dentist might take an x-ray as it shows a more detailed view of your affected teeth and bones. Without an x-ray, even issues such as early decay are at times difficult to identify and detect.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know more about these dental instruments that go into routine dental practices, you do not have to fear or hide under a blanket of fear. Just be relaxed and cool, as these tools are harmless in the hands of your dentist or dental professionals. Though these tools might look menacing are typically offset by something, such as an anesthetic – that will help you remain comfortable during your complete dental procedure.
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