III. INSTRUMENTS USED IN RETRACTING SOFT TISSUE

Right angled retractor with no handle (L-shaped)

Austin retractor

Use of austin retractor

• Retraction of small intraoral flaps during extraction of impacted teeth

One of the two most common cheek retractor

Austin retractor but the other one is minnesota retractor

Bent, broad, offset/ angled retractor

Minnesota retractor

Use of minnesota retractor

• Retraction of small intraoral flaps during extraction of impacted teeth

Modified minnesota retractor

Cawood-minnesota retractor

Both retract the cheek and mucoperiosteal flaps simultaneously without impinging on the soft tissue

Austin and minnesota retractor

Application before extraction of austin and minnesota

Retractor is held loosely on the cheek

Application after flap reflaction of austin and minnesota

Retractor restson the bone and it is used to reflect the flap

Most popularly used as cheek retractors

Austin retractor and minnesota retractor

Double ended (one end is broad and the other end is a slightly sharper end)

Periosteal elevator

Use of periosteal elevator

• Positioned on the bone

• Held to reflect the tissue

Primary instrument for retraction

Periosteal elevator

Similar to a periosteal elevator but it is flat and wider in size where in the working edges are dull/blunt

Seldin retractor

Use for seldin retractor

• Functions as a retractor

• Does not reflect the periosteum

Small, round mirror head with a slight angle is attached to a slim cylindrical handle

Mouth mirror

Use of mouth mirror

• reflect lights

• Provide indirect vision in the oral cavity

• It is commonly utilized to retract the tongue and cheeks

Most common used size of the mouth mirror head

Mouth mirror #3 and #4

Wide, broad, and heart shaped

Weider retractor

Use of weider retractor

• one side serrated to firmly engage

• Hold the tongue away from the surgical field

Must not be positioned posteriorly so it does not activate the patient’s gag reflex

Weider retractor

Long handle, L shaped retractor

Langenbeck retractor

Use of langenbeck retractor

• retracts flap edges with improved visualization of the deeper layers and structures

Broad, flat, rounded blade with nonhandle and it is made of stainless steel or wood/ bamboo

Tongue depressor/ tongue blade

Use of tongue depressor

• retraction and depression of the tongue

• Utilized as a cheek retractor

Circular, narrow beaks with pointed ends facing each other

Towel clip/ towel clamp

Use of towel clip

• it is not designed to be utilized in this manner as the name of the instrument implies

• But it is used to hold the tongue for biopsy

Performed under profound local anesthesia

Towel clip/ towel calmp

Doubled ended ( one end is L- shaped and the other end us facing the opposite direction with three dull and bent ends or rake tip)

Senn retractors

Use of senn retractors

• retractor primarily surface tissues for small bone procedures

• Dissection of neck tissue

Bent, double ended, wire retractor with rounded edges to minimize trauma

Columbia retractors

Use of Columbia retractors

• Design to hold the cheeks, lips and tongue away from the surgical site

• metal or plastic instruments where the working ends are C-shaped shallow concavities that may be handled or hands free

Cheek and lip retractor/ cheek and lip expanders

Use if cheek and lip retractors

• positions and retract the lips and cheeks for adequate visibility/ accessibility

• Protect the lips and cheeks from tissue damage during dental procedures

• It is also utilized for intraoral photography and documentation