Tools of the Trade: Dental Instruments and What They Do

Many a dental patient has sat in the chair anxiously eyeing all the metal instruments nearby. Unfortunately, many people are afraid to go to the dentist and a great deal of that fear centers around the tools a dentist uses. This fear can keep somebody from the dentist for decades, leading to dental problems that would have been easily avoided through preventative dentistry.

But there is no need to fear the dentist’s office. From the friendly mouth mirror to the intimidating dental drill, all these devices serve to keep your mouth clean and healthy. Here are outlined the common tools for a dentist to use for his patients.

Dental Utensils

The mouth mirror is a straightforward tool. It is simply an angled mirror at the end of a pen-sized pole. Its purpose is to provide a view behind your teeth. With it, a dentist can easily search for oral problems like tooth decay. It can also be used to move the tongue and cheeks.

The sickle probe is equally harmless despite the sinister-sounding name. Also called a dental explorer, this tool serves to probe the pockets between teeth. It also works to scrape away minor buildup of tartar and plaque.

Scalers are designed to remove heavier tartar and plaque buildups. This process can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary to prevent tooth loss. The need for scalers can be prevented with regular flossing.

The dental syringe has a longer needle than most syringes. The longer needle doesn’t mean it goes any deeper or hurts anymore. It is only there to give the reach the tool needs to hit the right spot in delivering anesthesia. Some dentists even use a topical anesthetic before using the syringe, so you won’t feel the prick.

Power Tools

The suction device has the job of making your mouth a relatively dry workspace. Being a vacuum device, it works through a tube placed in the patient’s mouth. When dentists tell you to close your mouth, they use this device to clear the mouth of water used in some procedures.

The dental drill is the real gem here and not just because it actually has diamonds in its bit. While it is probably the most feared of all dental implements, it is also the most effective way of eliminating tooth decay. It squirts water into the mouth to cool the area as it spins at 250,000 rpm because otherwise, the heat from the friction could damage the tooth. It is perfectly painless with a local anesthetic.

Dentists are doctors with the job of keeping their patients healthy. While their tools might look intimidating, they allow dentists to do their job cleanly and efficiently. Hopefully understanding what these tools do and why they are necessary will make your next trip to the dentist a little more pleasant.

About the Practice

Harris Parkway Dental Care handles the dental health needs of the Fort Worth community. Led by Drs. Brad McConnell and Yaritza Vazquez, the practice has the best hands working with the best dental instruments. The practice can be reached for more information at its website or at (817) 423-2223.