FINAL EXAM DENTAL ASSISTANT Instruments

Mouth Mirror

To provide indirect vision

To retract lips

Cheek

and tongue To reflect light into the mouth

An accurate image from flat surface

mirrors, image magnified with concave mirrors.

Explorer

Accurate image from flat surface

mirrors, image magnified with concave mirrors.

Pointed tips: sharp, thin and

flexible.

Orbin;

Shepherds;

Pigtail

Cotton Forceps

To Grasp and/or transfer material in and out

of the oral cavity.

Plain or serrated tips variety of sizes,

angled tip

Spoon Excacvator

Functions: To remove carious dentin To remove temp

cement, provisional crowns.

Spoon-shaped with a cutting edge,

small and large sizes.

Crown/Bridge scissors

used to trim and adjust temporary crowns and bridges, and to cut gingival retraction cord during dental procedures. They are available in both straight and curved blade designs and are typically made of stainless steel for durability and corrosion resistance

Articulating Paper Holder

To hold articulating paper in checking

patients bite

Articulating paper is blue or red,

thin to thick.

Anesthetic Syringe

To administer local anesthetic

Aspirating and self-aspirating syringe.

Aspirating syringes have a barb that inserts in the

carpule.

Topical Anesthetic

To aid in painless anesthesia

Gel consistency, applied with Q-tip

to the injection site, differs in color and taste

Lidocaine - Red

An anesthetic with epinephrine

red band on the carpule; most used anesthetic

Polocaine - Tan

A non-epinephrine anesthetic, used

when patients can’t have epinephrine, e.g. HTN

patients

3 % Polocaine Plain; has a tan band on the carpule

Air/Water Syringe Tip

To rinse and dry specific teeth or entire oral

cavity

Three-way syringe: air, water, or spray

with water and air; Syringe tip: Disposable plastic or

autoclavable metal; attaches to air/water syringe on

dental unit nit

Flowable Composite

Functions: High viscosity, low filler composite, used

small areas or before placement of packable

composite, differs in shade.

Fluid like composite, with in a syringe

used with a syringe tip.

Composite Gun

Holds a composite tip, used to deliver

composite to the cavity prep

Composite tip inserts in the barrel of

The composite gun.

Magnetic Bur Block with Burs

To be used by inserting into dental

handpiece; to attach discs to mandrel for finishing and

polishing inside or outside of oral cavity.

Different shanks: 1. Long shanks –

straight slow-speed handpiece, 2. Short latch-type

shank – contra- angle slow-speed handpiece, 3.. Friction

grip – high speed handpiece

Temporary Cement

provisional cement or dental crown glue. It's specifically formulated to temporarily hold dental restorations like crowns, bridges, or splints in place while a permanent restoration is being fabricated

These cements are designed to be strong enough to secure the temporary restoration but also easy to remove when the time comes for the permanent restoration. 

Packable Composite

Low viscosity, high filler, permanent

restorative material.

Either in a syringe or composite tip.

Composite tip requires composite gun,

Micro Brush

Use to apply primer, dentin bond enamel

bond, sealants.

Small plastic instrument with small

fiber bristled head.

Retraction Cord

a thin, thread-like material, typically made of cotton or polyester, that dentists use to temporarily displace gum tissue (gingiva) away from the tooth. This creates a space, called the gingival sulcus, for better access to the tooth margin during procedures like impression taking for crowns, bridges, or veneers

Spatula

to mix, apply, and shape dental materials like cements, impression materials, and waxes

rubber dam punch

a tool used to make holes in a rubber dam, which is a thin sheet used to keep teeth dry and separate during dental work. The punch has a rotating disc with different hole sizes so the dentist can choose the right size for each tooth.

rubber dam

A thin sheet of latex or nitrile material used in dentistry to isolate one or more teeth during treatment. It creates a barrier between the working area (the tooth) and the rest of the mouth, providing several benefits for both the dentist and the patient. 

Rubber dam clamp

is a small, spring-like metal tool used to hold a rubber dam in place on a tooth. It helps keep the area dry and clean by keeping saliva and other fluids away during dental work.

Rubber dam forceps

There are special dental tools used to hold, open, and place rubber dam clamps on teeth. They help keep the tooth dry and clean during treatments like root canals or fillings

Rubber dam frame

are special dental tools used to hold, open, and place rubber dam clamps on teeth. They help keep the tooth dry and clean during treatments like root canals or fillings.

Curing Light

To harden light-cure materials, bonding,

composites, sealants, cements, build up.

Material must be cured in increments

of 2 mm or less, need to be above 300 wavelength.

Endodontic K-files

commonly referred to as K-files, are hand instruments used in root canal treatment to clean and shape the root canal space

slow speed handpiece

a dental instrument used for procedures requiring precision and control, typically at speeds below 50,000 RPM

favored for tasks like removing decay, polishing teeth, refining cavity preparations, and adjusting restorations due to their ability to provide more controlled and gentle cutting

Periosteal Elevator

To provide indirect vision To retract lips,

cheeks, and tongue To reflect light into the mouth.

Accurate image from flat surface

mirrors, image magnified with concave mirrors.

Surgical Curette

To remove debris or granulation tissue

from surgical site; to remove cyst from extraction

site or surgical site; to use for gross tissue

debridement.

Various sizes and shapes; single or double ended.

Cotton Rolls

To isolate teeth and absorb saliva Act as a

protective tissue barrier; aid in endodontic diagnostics

Characteristics: Fluid absorbent roll ~ 1 in long

2×2 cotton guaze

absorbent dressings to manage bleeding and promote healing after dental procedures. They are also used for cleaning wounds, applying medication, and packing extraction sites

dry tip- angle

a dental product used to maintain a dry working field during procedures by absorbing saliva and protecting the cheek. It's a thin, absorbent, cellulose triangle that replaces cotton rolls, especially in the parotid area, to restrict saliva flow. 

Hollenback Carver

To contour and carve occlusal and

interproximal anatomy in amalgam restorations.

Double ended, sharp stiff metal blade,

sharp point; ends are protrude at different angles;

carves other restorative materials.

Root-Tip Picks

To lift and remove small root tips in difficult areas.

Pointed at working end . Straight or

right-and-left pairs.

Surgical Evacuation Tip

To evacuate fluid from oral cavity and

surgical sites.

Stainless steel, autoclavable plastic, or

disposable plastic; tips narrow to accommodate surgical

site; attaches to tubing on dental unit.

scalpel

is a precision cutting tool used for various procedures, including surgical extractions, gingivectomies (gum tissue removal), and other soft tissue surgeries. It consists of a handle and a detachable or disposable blade

Rongeur

To trim and remove excess alveolar

bone after extraction.

Variety of sizes and angles.

Bone File

To remove or smooth edges of alveolar

bone

Used in push-pull motion; straight

cut or cross-cut cutting end; variety of sizes, angles, and shapes.

Maxillary needle

Typically short for maxillary,

typically use shorter, 25 or 27-gauge needles

Mandible injections

often require longer, 27-gauge needles to reach the nerve before it enters the mandibular foramen

Hemostat

To grasp tissue or bone fragment

Has variety of functions. Working end

is serrated and it locks. Can be straight or curved.

East/west elevator

dental tool with a triangular blade used to remove broken root tips. It's especially helpful when the nearby tooth is missing. The tool lifts the root piece out using a turning motion.

Maxillary Universal Forceps/ 150 forcep upper

To extract maxillary central, laterals,

cuspids, premolars, and roots.

Has straight handles or one curved handle

Mandibular Universal

Forceps/ Cryer 151 lower

To extract manibular central, laterals,

cuspids, premolars, and roots.

Has straight handles or one curved handle.

Universal Mandibular Forceps

No. 23

To extract mandibular first and second

molars.

Referred to as “Cowhorn” forceps;

straight handles or one curved handle

Bite Block

a device used in dentistry to control the position of the jaw, typically to prevent teeth from touching or to create space between them

Scalpel blade 12 & 15

scalpel blade #12 is a small, crescent-shaped blade used for precise, curved incisions, particularly for removing sutures or working in confined spaces

Blade #15, on the other hand, is a small, curved blade ideal for making short and precise incisions in soft tissue, such as during gingivectomies or other minor surgical procedures

Triple Tray

Triple trays are primarily used for making impressions for crowns, bridges, and other indirect restorations, particularly for single or multiple posterior teeth

Tofflemire/Matrix Band Retainer

To maintain stability of matrix band during

condensation of restorations.

Has a guide slot, spindle, outer and inner knob.

Discoid-Cleoid Carver

To carve occlusal anatomy into amalgam

restorations.

Double ended; Discoid is disk shaped;

cleoid is pointed, sharp.

versatile tool for shaping and contouring dental fillings, allowing for the creation of natural-looking tooth anatomy. It is used to remove excess material (flash) and define the contours of the restoration, including grooves, ridges, and fossae

Ball Burnisher

To smooth amalgam after condensing To

contour matrix band before amalgam placement.

Burnishes alloy restorations, single or double sided.

Saliva Ejector

To evacuate reduced volumes of fluid

from oral cavity.

Disposable plastic for single use;

can be bent or used straight; attaches to tubing on dental unit

High Speed Handpiece

To be used with a bur to cut a cavity/crown

prep.

Runs on air pressure, up to 400,000

rpm’s, sprays water, friction grip.

Gingival Cord

to push a retraction cord into the gingival sulcus, the space between the tooth and the gum, to temporarily displace gum tissue

Millimeter Ruler

measuring tooth length, assessing the exposure of incisors, and determining the correct placement of prosthetic teeth

Amalgam Carrier

To carry and dispense amalgam for

cavity preparation.

Amalgam is placed in hollow tubes,

and is then placed in cavity preparation, double or single sided.

Amalgam Well

To hold amalgam before it is placed in the

preparation

High Velocity Saliva Evacuation

To evacuate large volumes of fluid and

debris from oral cavity

Straight or slightly angled at one or

both end; stainless steel, autoclavable plastic, or

disposable plastics; attaches to tubing on dental unit

Small elevators

are thinner and sharper, ideal for navigating tight spaces and severing the periodontal ligament (PDL) during atraumatic extractions

Large elevators

standard elevators, are thicker and more robust, providing greater leverage for dislodging teeth and root fragments, especially when dealing with firmly rooted teeth