CDAP - Basic Dental Instruments

Non-cutting instruments

mirrors, explorers, probes, condensers

cutting instruments

scalers, excavators, chisels, other

Excavators (types)

spoon excavator, black spoon

Chisels (types)

enamal hatchet, bin-angle chisel, gingival margin trimmer

Other (types)

Discoid-cleoid, hollenback carver

Three main regions of dental instruments

handle, shank, working end (blade and cutting edge or nib and face)

Dental mirror

Non-cutting instrument - An instrument used to reflect light and provide a view of areas in the mouth that are difficult to see, often used for indirect vision and to keep the mouth open.

Indirect vision

To look at oral structures using a dental mirror

Explorer

Non-cutting instrument - A dental instrument used to detect cavities and tooth surfaces by using tacticle sensitivity.

• Shepherds hook : curved end of explore (No.23)

• No. 17 Explorer - flatter, shorter hook on the other end for interproximal areas between the teeth

• UH3CH : curves under and around the teeth to detect crown margins

Periodontal probe

Non-cutting instrument - used to measure the pocket depth between gum and tooth to detect the presence of gum disease, width of teeth, amount of overbite

• UNC-15 Probe: each line represents each mm to 15 mm

• Williams Probe : 1 mm increments but leaves out 4 and 6 mm

• Marquise Probe (3 mm increment)

Amalgam Condenser

Non-cutting instrument - Used to squish amalgam material into the depths of cavity preparation and composite material

• The nib is the portion that comes into contact with the restorative material being condensed

• The end of the nib is called the face which is smooth

Ball Burnisher

Non-cutting instrument - Used for burnishing or carving the surface of an amalgam filling, smooth out occlusal surface of a composite restoration

• Two spherical ends or one spherical end with a football shape

Scalers —>

Responsible for removing calculus (hardened dental plaque)

Excavators —>

Responsible for cutting dentin

Chisels

Used for cutting enamel

Other —>

Used for restoration

Cutting instrument formula

This formula is used to classify dental cutting instruments based on their dimensions and design.

1. Blade width (10=1mm)

2. Cutting edge angle (omitted if perpendicular to blade)

3. Blade length (7=7mm)

4. Blade angle (14=14% of 360)

Scaler

Cutting instrument - Two sided instruments each with its own working end with two cutting edges that adapt closely to the tooth and remove plaque and debris (calculus)

Universal

Anywhere

Graceys

specific area

Sickle scalers

Sharp points are used for surpagingival calculus

Curette

Rounded ends used for subgingival calculus

Spoon excavator

Cutting instrument - (11.5-7-14) Used for gentle and controlled carries removal to scrape dentin

Black spoon

Cutting instrument - Larger more robust type of spoon excavator. Used to burnish metal with the rounded end or back side of the spoon

Enamal Hatchet

Cutting instrument - 10-7-14 Double ended cutting instrument used for planing walls of enamel. The bevel on one end planes the facial wall and the other planes the lingual wall

Bin-Angle Chisel

Cutting instrument - Double ended for planing walls of enamel. Bin angle because there are two angles in the shank of the instrumentused primarily for shaping and finishing enamel surfaces. Provide proper orientation and balance.The cutting edge is perpendicular to the blade.

Gingival Margin Trimmer

Cutting instrument - Designed for planning enamel for the gingivall floor of the prep. Tjhe cutting edge is not perpendicular to the blade.

• If the number is less than 90 degrees, it’s used for the mesial side of the tooth

• If it’s greater than 90 degrees, it’s used for the distal side of the tooth

Discoid Cleoid Carver

Other - Double ended round handled instrument used for carving and contouring amalgam. The cleoid end is clawlike for carving grouves into the amalgam. The discoid is used for caving pits and fasa into the amalgam

Hollenback Carver

Other- double ended round handled instruments used for placing, carving, and contouring amalgam. The two ends are oriented 90 degrees to one another

Instrument Grasp

Modified pen grasp - add the middle finger to grabbing the instrument and rests on your ring finger adding control, accuracy, and protection. Often used on the adjacent teeth, maxillary, and mandible if the patient is biting on a bite block

Low speed handpiece

A dental tool used for precision work, typically operates at less than 12,000 rpm, and is often employed for procedures like polishing, removing decay and refining tooth structure. Runs on air

Medium Speed handpiece

A dental instrument designed to operate between 12,000 and 200,000 rpm, used for various restorative procedures and cutting tasks.

High speed handpiece

A dental tool that operates above 200,000 rpm, used with a bur to cut a cavity/crown prep. Runs on air pressure

RPM

Revolutions per minute

Burs

Small rotating instruments used with handpieces for cutting, shaping, or finishing dental tissue. It’s inserted in high speed or low speed handpiece to cut, polish, or fin

• Shank

• Neck

• Head

Carbide Bur

A type of bur made from tungsten carbide, known for better end-cutting and producing lower heat for amalgam removal

Diamond bur

A dental bur made with diamond particles, better for side cutting, produce higher heat, greater hardness, and used for crown preparations, beral, and enamalplasty

Cotton Pliers

Used to remove cotton holders during procedures

Forceps

A dental instrument used for grasping, holding, and extracting teeth or tissue during oral procedures.

Cotton rolls

To isolate teeth and absorb saliva, act as a protective tissue barrier

Sickle Scaler

Remove large amounts of deposit from supragingival surfaces

Maxillary Universal Forceps

A type of bird beak forceps used to extract maxillary, central, laterals, cuspids, premolars, and roots. Usually has straight handles or one curved

Maxillary right forceps

Extract trifurcated maxillary first or second molars. Usually has right split beak to engage in lingual root

Trifurcated maxillary teeth

Upper molars with three roots instead of one or two that provide stability and support during extraction.

Maxillary left forceps

Extract trifurcated maxillary left first or second molars. Has left split beak to lingual root

Mandibular universal forceps

To extract mandibular central, laterals, cuspids, premolars, roots. Usually is straight handled or one curved

Mandibular molars (cowhorn) forceps

Used to extract mandibular first and second molars. Referred to cowhorn forceps, usually straight or one curved (2)

Air water syringe

to rinse and dry specific teeth or entire oral cavity. Three way: air, water, or spray with water and air. Syringe tip: disposable plastic or autoclavable metal which attaches to air water syring eon dental unit

Used for fillings

chisels, hoes, dental drills, and hatchets while scalers and curettes remove decay

Used for Extractions

elevators, forceps, and surgical curettes

Restorative instruments

excavator, rotary instruments, burnishers, carvers, dental burst

Elevators

used in tooth extractions to loosen the tooth from its socket by enlarging it