When you go to the dentist’s, the first instrument that they will use is usually a dental mouth mirror.
It is a diagnostic instrument that the dentist uses to inspect your teeth.
Essentially it is a small mirror that can go inside your mouth, on a long handle to hold it in position.
It consists of the head, stem and handle.
The head is the round mirror which is usually available in different diameters while the length of the handle remains unchanged.
This article discusses the function of the dental mouth mirror, its maintenance and where to purchase it.
Keep reading below to know more!
Dental Mouth Mirror Function
Ever wondered what the dentist can see when they place the mirror in your mouth?
This medical equipment allows them to see everything clear, whether it is cavities or tartar on your teeth.
Using the mouth mirror, the dentist can see your oral cavity indirectly.
It is harder to diagnose oral health problems simply using the eyes, the mirrors can provide a magnified view instead, aiding in diagnosis.
That is because direct light does not reach all teeth and gums.
Using a mirror, you can provide indirect illumination to that area in the mouth by reflecting light.
The lingual and posterior regions of the maxillary anterior regions are poorly lit.
So that’s where the reflected light comes most in use.
Moreover, it helps to make the operative field visible.
It retracts the soft tissues i.e. the lips, tongue and cheek to explore problems inside the mouth even more clearly.
It separates these obstacles in order to examine the areas of interest in the oral cavity in a painless way.
Similarly, it helps to give a clearer view of the compromised areas which are harder to see anyways.
These include the back of the last molars, gum and tartar present in the back molars.
In fact, the dentist can separately examine each tooth because of the equipment’s width and length.
The mirrors are also fixated on the handle at a certain angle that allows the dentist to see the sides of the teeth.
The mirror can fulfill these functions, but the dentist also needs to handle it properly.
- They should use a light grip to prevent strains in the hands
- Prevents the doctor from sitting in an improper posture leading to neck and back problems
- Use padded gripping surface
- Place reflective surface in warm water to avoid fogging of the mirror
What Are The Different Dental Mouth Mirrors?
Basically, a mouth mirror is a small mirror fixated on a thin handle of metal or plastic.
Either the head and handle are fixed together and need replacement when the image is no longer clear or the head is screwed to the handle.
In the latter case, you can simply remove the head when image clarity changes and use the same handle.
It can be for one disposable use or repeated.
The mirror head will be angled to place it in the sulcal regions present between the cheek and teeth while also reflecting light into dim areas.
The most common of these are No 4 and No 5.
While No 2 is also in popular use for smaller areas.
For instance, when a rubber dam is in the mouth, there is less access to a mouth mirror, then No 2 will come in handy to make that area operable.
The difference between these three is their diameters.
The diameter of Number 2 is 5/8 inch, that of Number 4 is 7/8 inch and Number 5 is 15/16 inch.
Besides these, there are also further categories of the mirrors that you should keep in consideration while buying it.
For instance:
Thread Type and Coating
Other than the diameter of the mirror, its thread type is also important.
Now, there are two of these, Simple Steam and Cone Socket.
The Simple Steam or S.S. is a European thread that as its name goes, is simple.
They are rhodium-plated mirrors.
Cone Socket or C.S. is a conical thread.
Its other name is the American thread which is a flat-type mirror.
C.S. is more commonly in use than S.S.
For a more precise view, you may want to purchase a mirror that has a front-side coating.
It allows the dentist to see small objects like the tooth and the tip of the probe clearly.
It reflects the image onto the front side to assist in the examination.
The other option is having mirrors with coating on the reverse side.
That is not the best option because it does not generate the same level of precise image as front-side coating mirrors.
Moreover, the coating hinders the reflection and it has to go through the film’s thickness to reflect an image.
Handles and Material
The handles last you longer than the mirror.
Hence, they are categorized as ergonomic and anti-slip.
The roughness in the handle prevents it from slipping from the dentist’s hand.
The dental mirrors consist of two materials, disposable plastic and stainless steel.
The plastic ones are usually a single time use that you can discard after using.
However, the stainless steel ones are usually screwed to the handle.
Therefore, you can keep using the handle even after the mirror is no longer as functional.
Hence, they are for several uses and the mirror is replaceable.
Now that you know what aspects of a mirror you should keep in consideration while buying, it is time to also look into its types.
These differ from each other according to t their reflective surface.
Types of Mouth Mirror
First up, there are two reflective surfaces to consider, metal reflective surface and glass reflective surface.
The metal reflective surface manages to reflect a low-light image.
The glass reflective surfaces are either flat mirrors or concave-convex mirrors.
- Flat and Front Surface Mirrors
These provide a clear and brighter image without any distortion or size change.
Flat surfaces are usually present in disposable mirrors.
However, front surface mirrors can have a handle of both metal or plastic.
Metal is recommended as it will not deteriorate in sterilization temperatures.
- Convex-Concave Mirrors
A convex-concave mirror magnifies the image in order to give the dentist a clearer view into the problem.
It enlarges the visible area so it is easier for the doctor to diagnose your condition.
This is especially beneficial for the gums and the area between the teeth and gums.
However, as the image magnifies, it may become blurred, hazy and not well illuminated.
Therefore, in comparison to front surface mirrors, their use is discouraged.
Front surface mirrors will not distort the size but will give the most accurate reflection.
On the other hand, concave-convex mirrors may blur out the image, showing you an inaccurate reflection.
- Double-Sided Mirrors
Besides the flat surface and concave-convex mirrors, there are double-sided mirrors.
It allows the dentist to see the other side simultaneously while looking at the target area.
The indirect view allows seeing the opposite side while it also retracts the tongue and cheek.
- Mouth Mirror Sizes
There are different types of mirrors but their diameter is different as well.
Size 1 has a diameter of 16 mm.
The diameter of Size 2 is 18 mm.
Size 3 is 20 mm, Size 4 of 22 mm and Size 5 of 24 mm.
After knowing dental mirror sizes and mouth mirror parts learn about its maintenance.
Maintenance
Reusable dental mirrors need proper sterilization and disinfection.
They go into the mouth of the patient so they accumulate germs and debris along the way.
If you are using a single-use plastic dental mirror then you can simply discard it, however, the metal mirrors should be free of microorganisms and spotless.
This prevents the transmission of diseases and infections among your patients and in your setup.
Follow these tips to keep your medical equipment clean:
- First, wash organic debris like blood and saliva from the mirror. Crary out this preliminary wash simply with water.
- In order to prevent organic debris from sticking to the surface of the mirror, pour some enzymatic detergent over it.
- Rinse it with lots of water until there are no signs of detergent.
- Dry it out using pressurized air or a lint-free cloth.
- You would want to inspect it right now to see if there is no residue remaining.
- Pack it in a sterilization bag. If you will other dental instruments on the same patient, then they can all go in one bag. Though, pack it individually if that does not apply and then seal the packing.
- Sterilize the mirrors in the bag by putting them in the autoclave.
- Once sterilized, keep them stored in a humidity and temperature-controlled environments. Also avoid any breakage or compression, to ensure the mirrors remain sterilized till you use them.
Now, you can reuse them unhindered.
Final Thoughts
A dental mouth mirror is absolutely necessary during a dental checkup as it allows dentists to examine the patient thoroughly.
The question arises, where to buy dental mirror?
Take a look at the equipment available on this website as Engiomed is a trustworthy medical equipment supplier.
We ensure you will receive safe to use and long-lasting equipment from us.
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