Fundamentals of Mirror Use

You will learn to identify the different kinds of dental mirrors and understand what their surfaces are like.
You will learn about the many ways to use dental mirrors, such as seeing indirectly, pulling back tissues, shining light, and shining light through teeth.
You will learn how to hold the dental mirror using a specific grip called the modified pen grasp.
You will understand what each finger does when holding the mirror with the modified pen grasp.
You will learn what a fulcrum is and how to tell apart the three different types: inside the mouth, outside the mouth, and advanced techniques.

A dental mirror is a tool that helps dental professionals see parts of teeth that they cannot directly look at.
For example, a dental professional needs this mirror to see the back surfaces of the upper front teeth.

The part of the dental mirror that does the work is its reflective surface, which is made of a mirror that helps you see things.

There are three main types of dental mirrors commonly used in dental offices:
1. Front Surface
2. Concave
3. Plane (Flat Surface)

The mirror part that reflects images is located right on the very front of the glass.
This type of mirror gives you a very clear image without any twisting or blurring, so it looks exactly as it should.
Many dental professionals prefer this mirror because it provides the best and clearest view.
The reflective surface of this mirror can get scratched easily, so you need to be very careful when using and cleaning it.

The reflective surface is located on the front curved part of the mirror.
This mirror makes objects look bigger than they actually are.
Most dental professionals do not recommend using this mirror because the enlarged image can make things look distorted and hard to accurately assess.

This mirror shows a duplicated image, which some people call a 'ghost image,' meaning you see two of everything.
This mirror is more resistant to scratches because its reflective part is protected on the back of the glass.
It is not recommended to use this mirror because seeing a double image can make it difficult for the dental professional to focus and do their work accurately.

When using dental tools, dental professionals hold the mirror with the hand they don't usually write with.
You should use your ring finger and index finger to keep the mirror steady inside the patient's mouth.
- To get extra support, dental professionals can gently rest these fingers on the patient's chin, cheek, or even a tooth surface.

A fulcrum is a specific spot where you rest and stabilize your hand while you are performing dental procedures.
There are three types of fulcrums:
1. Extraoral Fulcrum: This is when you rest your hand on a point outside of the patient's mouth to steady it.
2. Intraoral Fulcrum: This is when you rest your hand on a tooth surface inside the patient's mouth for support.
- It's an option when you use a dental mirror, but it's really important and recommended when you are using a periodontal instrument for cleaning or examining gums.
1. Advanced Fulcrums: These are special ways to stabilize your hand when you are doing more complex dental procedures.

The dental mirror is extremely useful and has several important jobs during dental procedures: it helps with indirect vision, retraction, indirect illumination, and transillumination.

Indirect vision means using the dental mirror to see a tooth surface or any other part inside the mouth that you cannot look at directly with your eyes.

Retraction means using the mirror to gently pull back the patient's cheek, lip, or tongue.
This helps you get a clearer view of tooth surfaces that are usually hidden behind these soft tissues.
For instance, using your index finger to pull back a lip can be more comfortable for the patient than using the mirror itself for the upper or lower lip.

Indirect illumination is when you use the mirror to bounce light from your dental light source onto a tooth or soft tissue area that is dark and hard to see directly.

Transillumination is a technique where you shine light from the mirror surface through the front teeth to make internal structures inside the mouth more visible, often used to detect cracks or decay.

To sum up, the dental mirror performs four essential tasks when you are using periodontal tools:
1. Indirect Vision
2. Retraction
3. Indirect Illumination
4. Transillumination