Module 4: Use of the Dental Mouth Mirror

What is a dental mirror used for?

Used to view tooth surfaces that cannot be seen using direct vision

What is the four important functions of the dental mirror?

Indirect vision, retraction, indirect illumination, transillumination

What does the working-end of a dental mirror have?

A reflecting mirrored surface

What are the types of dental mirrors?

Front surface, concave, plane (flat surface)

Describe the characteristics of the front surface of the mouth mirror

Reflecting surface is on the front of the glass, produces a clear image with no distortion, most commonly used type because of good image quality

Describe the characteristics of the concave of the mouth mirror

Reflecting surface is on the front surface of the mirror lens, produces a magnified image (image in enlarged), magnification distorts the image

Describe the characteristics of the plane (flat surface) of the mouth mirror

Reflecting surface is on the back surface of the mirror lens, produces a double image (ghost image), double image may be distracting

How do clinicians grasp mirror during instrumentation?

grasp with nondominant hand, ring and index fingers are used to stabilize mirror in mouth, clinician rest fingers on patients chin check, or tooth surface to stabilize mirror

What is extraoral fulcurm?

stabilization point outside patients’ mouth, fingers rested on chin or cheek

What is intraoral function?

stabilization point for hand on a tooth surface

What is the use of indirect vision on dental mirror?

use of dental mirror to view a tooth surface or intraoral structure that cannot be seen directly, ex: a mirror used to indirectly view the lingual surface

What is the use of retraction on dental mirror?

use of mirror head to hold patients cheek, lip, or tongue so that clinician can view tooth surfaces that are otherwise hidden from view by soft tissue structures

How do you retract the lip?

index finger is used to retract lip away from teeth, more comfortable for patients than using the mirror

What is the use of indirect illumination?

use of the mirror surface to reflect light onto a tooth surface in a dark area of the mouth

What is Transillumination?

the technique of directing light off of the mirror surface and through the anterior teeth looking for carries

Where in the mouth is transillumination used on?

Only posterior teeth can be transilluminated because these teeth are thin enough to allow light to pass through them

Why is transillumination not used on posterior teeth?

Because they are bulky teeth that cannot be transilluminated

In procedure for transillumination what is the light position?

light is directly over oral cavity with light beam perpendicular to facial surfaces of anterior teeth, patients chin is down

In procedure for transillumination what is the mouth mirror position and clock position?

12 o’clock, hold mirror behind mandibular anterior teeth with reflecting surface parallel to lingual surfaces

Where do you look when viewing the transilluminated teeth?

you look directly at teeth, not in the mirror, the teeth should appear to glow lightly by the reflection of light

Mirror Use on Maxillary Anteriors, Lingual Aspect: Surface toward

Sit in 8 o’clock, grasp mirror with left hand, rest your finger and little finger on the patient’s right cheek, adjust mirror to view lingual surface, swivel mirror head so that the surfaces toward you are easily seen

Mirror Use on Maxillary anteriors, Lingual Aspect: Surface away

Sit at 12 o’clock, rest ring and little finger on patients left cheek, mirror is positioned closer to the tongue not near maxillary anteriors, swivel mirror so you can see the surface

Mirror Use on Maxillary Right Posterior Sextant: Facial Aspect

sit at 9 o’clock, side the mirror head between the dental arches and rest the ring and little fingers on the right side of the patients face, retract the mucosa with the mirror, use mirror for indirect vision to view the distal surface of the teeth, swivel the mirror so you can easily view the distal surfaces

Mirror Use on Maxillary Left Posterior Sextant: Lingual Aspect

sit at 9 o’clock, rest ring and little fingers on the right side of the patients face near the corner of the mouth, position mirror head away from the teeth closer to the tongue, use mirror for indirect vision to view distal surface and swivel mirror so you can see distal surface

Mirror Use on Maxillary Right Posterior Sextant: Facial Aspect

Mirror Use on Maxillary Right Posterior Sextant: Lingual Aspect

Mirror Use on Mandibular Anterior Lingual Aspect: Surface toward

Mirror Use on Mandibular Anterior Lingual Aspect: Surface Away

Mirror Use on Mandibular Right Posterior