Common Dental Instruments

• Instruments allow dentists to view and access the furthest reaches of a person's mouth. teeth image by JASON WINTER from Fotolia.com

  Dentists use a fundamental collection of tools and instruments to practice their craft. Though an abundance of specialized equipment exists as well, certain instruments will be found in almost every dentist's office, and these tools generally are used in the examination and cleaning of the patient's teeth.

Mouth Mirror

• Usually a small, round mirror at the end of a metal grip, this tool allows the dentist to examine a person's mouth from various directions. Aside from allowing light so the dentists may see, the mirror magnifies the person's mouth and teeth to allow for easier viewing.

Probes

• These are the metal hooks that the dentist uses to check for cavities and other issues in the teeth and gums. The basic probe is known as an "explorer" and has a hook-shaped pick. A periodontal probe is used to measure the depth of the pocket in the gum and around the tooth to check for periodontal disease, which occurs when plaque hardens around the tooth and creates space. The dentist can also use one of these probes to scrape beneath the gums to prevent this from occurring.

Saliva Management

• A saliva ejector is a curved tube which acts as a vacuum inside the patient's mouth to remove saliva. Since patients are often forced to keep their mouths open for long periods of time, saliva can form plentifully. Besides this instrument, dentists can use more basic absorbent substances, like cotton.

The Bur

• The most-feared amongst the dentist's arsenal, the bur (commonly called the drill) is used to fill cavities and generally smooth out and/or polish the patients pearly whites. Because this can be painful, the bur is generally used in combination with some type of numbing agent, such as Novocain. The dentist will administer these pain killers with a syringe, usually after applying a topical anesthetic.

X-ray Equipment

• Though not present in every office, X-ray equipment is an important tool to help the dentist detect any deep-lying problems in the patient's teeth or gums that may not be obvious to standard examination. X-rays can detect tooth decay within the tooth long before it becomes visible to the human eye.