Dental Instruments and Their Parts

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is a significant disadvantage of single-patient-use restorative instruments?

They are ineffective in shaping material.

They can be reused multiple times.

They allow for disease transfer.

They are expensive. (correct)

Which instrument is primarily used for compressing amalgam into tooth preparations?

Condensers (correct)

Carvers

Burnishers

Amalgam carrier

Which type of burnisher is used to create occlusal anatomy in amalgam restorations?

T-Ball burnisher (correct)

Acorn burnisher

Flat burnisher

Football burnisher

What should be avoided during the use of a bur on healthy dentine?

Too much pressure Signup and view all the answers

Which instrument is designed to mix different materials in operative dentistry?

Cement spatula Signup and view all the answers

What is essential to do before finishing and polishing an amalgam restoration?

Allow it to reach its final set for at least 24 hours. Signup and view all the answers

What type of instrument is a carver primarily used for?

Shaping amalgam or resin composite Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of periodontal probes in dentistry?

To detect and measure the depth of periodontal pockets Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key function of finishing amalgam restorations?

Defining anatomical contours Signup and view all the answers

Why are plastic instruments important in modern dentistry?

They carry and shape tooth-colored restorative materials. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of handpiece is primarily used for oral surgery and laboratory work?

Straight handpiece Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of utilizing a burnisher in dental procedures?

To polish and shape dental materials. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic differentiates low-speed handpieces from high-speed handpieces?

Speed of rotational movements Signup and view all the answers

What does the blade of a dental instrument refer to?

The cutting portion of an instrument Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant benefit of using contra-angle handpieces?

They improve accessibility and visibility. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the term 'indirect vision' when using a mouth mirror?

Visualizing areas that cannot be seen directly Signup and view all the answers

Which instrument is primarily used to detect tooth surface irregularities and decay?

Explorer Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of tweezers in dental settings?

To grip and transfer various materials Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a differentiating factor between straight and contra-angle handpieces?

The angle of the bur relative to the handpiece Signup and view all the answers

Which component connects the handle to the blade in a dental instrument?

Shank Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of a low-speed contra-angle handpiece?

Finishing and polishing of restoration Signup and view all the answers

What type of bur is primarily used in establishing wall angulations during cavity preparations?

Inverted cone bur Signup and view all the answers

Which high-speed handpiece characteristic distinguishes it from low-speed handpieces?

Speed of over 160,000 rpm Signup and view all the answers

Which bur shape is mainly used in pedodontics?

Pear shaped Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant advantage of diamond burs in operative dentistry?

Ability to cut enamel and dentin effectively Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Smart Prep instruments in dentistry?

To selectively remove decayed dentin while preserving healthy tissue Signup and view all the answers

Which type of bur is described as having an elongated cylinder and is used for amalgam tooth preparation?

Straight fissure bur Signup and view all the answers

What is a distinguishing feature of a cross-cut tapered fissure bur?

Can also be straight or spiral Signup and view all the answers

What speed range can some low-speed contra-angle handpieces achieve?

500 to 15,000 rpm Signup and view all the answers

What type of bur is used for initial tooth penetration and placement of retention grooves?

Round bur Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

History of Instruments

Early hand instruments had large, heavy handles and inferior metal alloys, making them difficult and ineffective.
Many dentists crafted their own instruments.

Instrument Parts

Shaft/Handle: A straight shaft used as a handle, without size variations.
Shank: Connects the handle to the blade; site of angulations.
Blade: The cutting portion of an instrument. For non-cutting instruments (e.g., condensers), the equivalent part is called the nib. The working surface of the nib is the face.

Examination Instruments

Mouth mirror: Used to provide clear visualizations of the oral cavity. (Indirect visualization).
Probe (Explorer): A pointed instrument to check for irregularities and detect decay.
Periodontal probes: Tools to measure the depth of periodontal pockets. Used in operative dentistry for instrument sizing.
Tweezer: Used for holding materials like cotton roll and to move materials in and out of cavities.

Rotating Instruments

Hand pieces: Devices for rotating instruments like burs.
Types of handpieces: Straight handpiece, contra-angle handpieces (low speed, high speed).
Burs: Rotary cutting instruments with cutting blades on the head. Available in numerous shapes and sizes.

Dental Burs

Tungsten carbide burs: A significant advancement in high-speed cutting, became available in 1947.
Shape and size: Burs come in various shapes(Round, Straight, inverted cone, Tapered fissure, Pear shaped) and sizes.
Round burs: Used for initial tooth penetration and placement of retention grooves.
Straight fissure burs: Used for amalgam tooth preparation.
Inverted cone burs: Used for cavity extensions, establishing wall angulations, and retention.
Tapered fissure burs: Used for cavity preparation, forming angles, and creating retention grooves in walls.
Pear-shaped burs: Primarily used in pediatric dentistry (pedodontics.)
Cross-cut tapered fissure burs: Used for cutting cavities for inlays.
Diamond burs: Increasingly common in operative dentistry due to their long lifespan and efficiency in cutting enamel and dentin.
- Color-coding: Indicates the coarseness of the bur. (White = super fine, Yellow = extra fine, Red = fine, Blue = standard, Green = coarse, Black = super coarse).
Smart Prep instruments: Medical polymer instruments removing decayed dentin while preserving healthy dentin.

Amalgam Restorative Instruments

Amalgam Carriers: Tools for picking up and placing amalgam into tooth cavities.
Condensers: Used to compact amalgam into all areas of the cavity preparation.
Carvers: Instruments for shaping amalgam and resin composite after placement.
Burnishers: Used for polishing, shining, and shaping amalgam.
- Types of burnishers: Football burnisher, Acorn burnisher, T-ball burnisher.

Plastic Instruments and Cement Spatulas

Plastic filling instruments: Initially used with silicate and acrylic resins. Now used with tooth-colored materials like resin composite and GIC.
Cement spatulas: Various sizes and thicknesses are available for mixing cement and cavity liners on glass slabs or paper pads.

Finishing and Polishing

Finishing: Removing marginal irregularities ,Defining anatomical contours and Smoothing surface roughness of the amalgam restoration after the amalgam has fully set (at least 24 hours).
Polishing: Producing a smooth, shiny surface on the amalgam restoration, preventing recurrent decay maintaining periodontal health, and preventing occlusal problems

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the history and functioning of dental instruments in this quiz. Learn about the various parts of instruments, including the handle, shank, and blade and discover the uses of different examination tools like mouth mirrors and probes.