This part of the guide will be focusing on the dental tools that make sure the patient is kept safe at all times. We will cover Tooth shields, which are designed to protect from drills, right up to spatulas which are used as a hygeinic way of mixing materials used for fillings and other dental substances.
Tooth Shields and Angled Wedges
Tooth Shields and Angled Wedges are used by the dentist to protect adjacent teeth when performing a variety of procedures. Wedges are made from materials including both plastic and stainless steel and prevent the burr of the dentist’s drill from damaging adjacent tooth enamel. The plastic wedge portion is inserted between the teeth leaving the metal shield exposed to protect the teeth.
Dental Spatulas
Dental Spatulas are used by the dental professional to prepare and ‘mix up’ specific materials used for creating fillings. This dental tool is not used in the patients mouth. Usually made from stainless steel pole a typical spatula is a rod of approximately 6 inches long with shaped flattened areas at one or both ends.
Cotton Pliers
To avoid contamination, a dentist uses cotton pliers to remove materials such as cotton padding from a patients mouth. These materials are often used to control moisture when performing examination or dental work. They resemble tweezers but are referred to as cotton pliers. They are also useful for picking up small items.
Root Canal File
Root canal files are small dental instruments used by dentists and endodontist who specialise in root canal work. They feature a stainless steel metal rod tapered to a point and have a knurled handle. The diameter of the rod decreases towards the tip allowing it’s insertion into the root canal area. The ‘rough’ edges of the rod are used to file away decayed material from the tooth. The pulp of the tooth is removed to ensure all bacteria is cleared away before the root canal filling can be performed.
Dental Syringe for Anaesthetic
The Dental Syringe is a tool used for administering an injection of local anaesthetic to a patient ahead of treatment such as fillings or extractions. The dental syringe comprises a sealed cartridge containing the anaesthetic solution and a breech loading unit.
Dental Syringe for Air or Water
Also referred to as a Dental Syringe is the ancillary tool used to supply water or air to the oral cavity during dental surgery. When drilling into a decayed tooth the dentist needs to remove the debris from the area being worked on. The dental syringe is a tool the dentist can use for this purpose. The tool features a three way syringe system with separate channels supplying air, water or a mist of air and water combined. The tip of the syringe can be separated from the main body and is usually replaceable.
Amalgam Well
An Amalgam Well is a small metal vessel used to store the amalgam used for filling teeth. Once the amalgam has been mixed by the dentist or his assistant it is briefly stored here to allow the dentist to scoop it up using his amalgam carrier and insert it into the previously prepared tooth.
Amalgam Carriers
Amalgam Carriers are used by the dentist to transfer the filling material to the opening that has been created in the patient’s tooth. These often used tools are made from stainless steel and can be double ended. The dentist scoops up material from the amalgam well and squeezes it into the cavity of the tooth. These tools are particularly useful for moving larger amounts of material. As the amalgam ‘goes off’ or hardens very quickly, the dentist can rotate the tool and use the contents stored in both ends to allow larger amounts of material to be inserted without delay. To add additional smaller pieces of amalgam the dentist may also use his probe.
