Dental Instruments

Mirror, explorer, probe (explore and probe rare on the same instrument)

what does a standard set up include?

explorer

used to feel decay, grooves, restorations

probe

used to measure, a ruler in millimeters

scaler

used to scrape (plaque, calculus, cement), use the side not the tip

composite instrument (aka plastic filling instrument)

one side packs and condenses, other side smooths and shapes

cotton pliers

general grabbing and handling needs

hemostats

used to grab things with better gripping power

curved hemostats

used to grab things with better gripping power and used for removing crowns

articulating paper

marks teeth to check how it fits with the other teeth

mirror, explorer, scaler, composite instrument, wax spatula, mixing spatula, articulating paper holder, cotton pliers, curved hemostats

what are the components of the exam kit

spoon

used to scoop in restorative dentistry

cord instrument

flat on both sides but oriented perpendicular to each other

high speed, slow speed, latch, straight nose cone

what are the different types of hand pieces

yes

does water spray out of a hand piece?

a bur

what do you insert into the head of a hand piece that is used to cut teeth, adjust restorations, and dentures ?

hard and soft tissue

what kind of tissue does a bur cut?

critical items, autoclaved

most dental instruments that are classified as ... and therefore must be cleaned of debris and then ...

critical

penetrate soft tissue or contact bone or bloodstream and, therefore, must be heat sterilized (skills spores)

semicritical

contact mucous membranes but do not penetrate soft tissue, do not contact bone, and do not enter bloodstream; should be heat sterilized if heat tolerant

noncritical

only contact the skin and can be disinfected; disinfection (with spray or wipe) is a process that kills many microorganisms, but not all bacterial spores

periodontal scalers and curets, burs, surgical instruments

what are some examples of critical items?

mouth mirror, amalgam condenser, reusable impression trays

what are some examples of semicritical items?

blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, radiograph tube head/cone

what are some examples of noncritical items?