17: 7 Identifying Dental Instruments and Preparing

Dental Trays

How should dental items be used?● Should be organized

and placed in proper sequence

● After use, is returned to same place on tray in case it is used again

Main Parts of Dental Hand Instruments

● Blade: cutting portion of an instrument

● Nib:blunt, serrated, or smooth ending of a packing instrument

● Point:sharp end of an instrument used to explore & detect

Main Parts of Dental Hand Instruments

● Shanko portion that connects the shaft (handle) to the blade, nib, or

point● Shaft

o the handle of an instrument, usually hexagonal for a better grip

Standard Instruments in Basic Tray Set-Up● Mouth Mirror

o Views areas of oral cavity, puts light on dark surfaces, and retracts lips for more visibility.

● Explorero Used to examine teeth, detect carious lesions,

and take note of other oral conditions.

● Cotton Plierso Used to carry objects. Ex: carrying cotton

pellets to and from the mouth.

● Scalerso Removes calculus (tartar) and debris from

teeth & subgingival pockets.

Standard Instruments in Basic Tray Set-Up● Periodontal probes

o used to measure the depth of the gingival sulcus

● Excavatorso used mainly for removal of caries and refinement of

an opening in a cavity preparation

● Different Excavators:o Spoon: remove soft decay from cavityo Hoe: used on anterior teeth to remove caries,

smooth and shape a cavity prep, or form line angles

o Hatchet: Used to refine internal line angles, smooth and shape the sides of a cavity prep, and remove hard-type caries.

Standard Instruments in Basic Tray Set-Up● Chisels

o Used for cutting and shaping enamels

● Different Chiselso Enamel hatchet: similar to other hatchets;

blade is larger, heavier, beveled on one side.o Gingival margin trimmer: special chisel for

placing bevels on gingival enamel margins of proximocclusal cavity preparations.

● Cleoid-discoid carver: o Used as a carver for amalgam, but can also be

used as an excavator

● Plastic filling instrument: o Used to shape and condense restorative

material that is still malleable

Standard Instruments in Basic Tray Set-Up● Amalgam instruments:

o Used mainly with amalgam restorations

● Different Amalgam instruments: o Amalgam carrier: Used to carry small masses if

freshly mixed amalgam to the cavity preparationo Amalgam Carvers: carves/shapes tooth to natural

anatomyo Condenser-plugger: Used for condensing and

packing amalgam into prepared cavityo Matrix retainer: holds the matrix band in placeo Matrix band: forms a wall around a cavity so

amalgam can be packed into place

● Burnisher: o used to burnish the margins of gold restorations to

a better fit

Standard Instruments in Basic Tray Set-Up● Lancet: Used to lance and incise tissue. ● Bone or Surgical chisels: Used for cutting bone

structure in oral surgery. o Some are used by hand, others require the use of a

surgical mallet.● Prophylactic, or general examination, tray: This type

of tray is used for basic examination and cleaning of the teeth. o Supplies and instruments placed on the tray include

scalers, prophylactic cups, paste, and brushes; and fluoride-treatment supplies.

● Amalgam restoration tray: This type of tray is used for an amalgam restoration procedure. o Instruments placed on the tray include amalgam

carriers, condenser-pluggers, and carvers.

Standard Instruments in Basic Tray Set-Up

● Composite, or esthetic, restoration tray: This type of tray is used for the placement of a composite restoration. o Special composite instruments such as a fine

brush and plastic instruments are placed on this tray.

● Surgical extraction tray: This type of tray is used for extraction, or removal, of teeth. o Instruments and supplies vary, but typically

are extracting forceps, root elevators, root-tip picks, periosteal elevators, Rongeur forceps, lancets bone chisels and a needle holder with suture materials.

Preparing Dental Tray Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGEhW-ttXoA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbcYAEo4o8E