A Quick Guide to Dental Tools

Learn About Dental Instruments & Equipment

At Twin Aspen Dental Center, we know patients can be intimidated by the variety of dental instruments we use at our dental office in Parker, CO. While some of these tools may look a bit frightening, they’re all used to clean and care for your teeth. We use many dental cleaning tools based on what needs to be done to repair or maintain your smile. The average patient might not know much about basic dental instruments, so we want to help you become more familiar with them. Doing so may help you feel more comfortable at the dentist. Contact us if you have any questions or to schedule a dental cleaning.

Seven Common Dental Hand Instruments

There’s no reason to fear a trip to the dentist. Being able to identify dental cleaning tools and what they do can help ease your anxiety. Here are seven common periodontal tools:

1. Mouth Mirror – Let’s start off with hand instruments used in dentistry that aren’t that scary. A mouth mirror is an important tool that will likely be used every time you visit the dentist. This tool is a small mirror attached to a metal stick. There are two purposes for this tool. First, a mouth mirror allows your dentist to view areas of your mouth that cannot be seen by the naked eye. Second, the instrument gives your dentist a simple way to move your tongue or push on the inside of your cheek.
2. Sickle Probe –A sickle probe can also be called a dental explorer. The sickle probe helps your dentist to find signs of cavities or gum disease. The sickle probe has a long handle and a hook on the end. This dental pick tool is used to explore the pockets in between your teeth and scrape away tartar or plaque. Your dentist can also use the tip to investigate a cavity.
3. Scaler – These professional dental picks are used to remove large buildups of plaque and tartar. Brushing and flossing don’t get all of the plaque off your teeth, so your hygienist may need to use a scaler to do a more effective job. Using these professional dental hygienist tools can prevent you from losing teeth from decay or gum disease.
4. Saliva Ejector/Suction Device – A saliva ejector provides a dry surface for your dentist to work within your mouth. This long tube is attached to a vacuum and removes saliva from your mouth. Don’t be startled by the noise or the ejector sticking to your cheek or tongue.
5. Dental Drill – These tools may be the most feared in the dental industry. The sound of a dental drill is not pleasant for some patients, but it’s the most effective way to remove tooth decay before your dentist fills a cavity. This electric drill spins very fast and shoots water into your mouth. You shouldn’t experience pain with a local anesthetic, but you may notice the vibrations on your teeth.
6. Dental Syringe – There’s no need to be afraid of a dental syringe because it delivers an anesthetic to numb your mouth and protects you from pain. You may experience a moment of discomfort with the initial injection, but after long, you won’t feel anything in your mouth. If you’re a bit squeamish, you should close your eyes or look away, and you can ask for a topical anesthetic prior to the syringe so you won’t feel the prick so much.
7. Moulds – Your dentist may need to get a mould of your teeth if you require a crown, cap, or mouthguard. The moulds are small frames containing a soft substance. They’re placed in your mouth, and you bite down to form a perfect mould of your teeth.

Schedule a Dental Cleaning Today

Twin Aspen Dental Center offers complete dental care for families in and around Parker, CO. We use a variety of professional dental cleaning tools, stomatology equipment, and more. Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with our dental instruments and their functions, we hope you’ll feel more at ease. Knowing orthodontic tools and names could come in handy the next time you’re in for a dental cleaning. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.