What Dental Instruments Are Used by Dental Specialists?

Most people are familiar with the dental mirrors, scales and suction used in prophylaxis and cleaning, though few are aware of the vast array of implements used by specialists. While similar to those of general dentistry, each has been specifically engineered for a particular task and maxillofacial area to maximize effectiveness and minimize pain and trauma.

Orthodontic Instruments

• Orthodontists are part of the largest dental specialty and are most often associated with brackets and bands. However, they require specialized implements to attach, tighten and remove them to produce a beautiful smile. They use curing lights to help attach brackets to teeth; Mathieu pliers, which lock when closed to hold small parts; explorers, which are a hook-like pointed instrument used to examine teeth; interproximal strippers that remove some of the enamel from the spaces between teeth to create extra space for crowded teeth, and scalers to remove excess cement. They rely upon band removers, to remove bands from the teeth; pin and ligature cutters to cut off arch wires and ligatures, and distal end cutters that cut the ends of arch wires.

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Instruments

• Oral surgeons perform a variety of surgeries to prevent, treat and relieve maxillary problems using a wide array of instruments. Their toolbox includes retractors, which are used to retract the cheeks, tongue or tissue to provide better visibility; surgical scalpels and surgical curettes, each with varying blades; root and perioteal elevators, which loosen teeth from their roots and periosteam; and the surgical air drill, which allows surgeons to remove bone and section teeth quickly with minimal trauma. Oral surgeons also rely on a variety of forceps that allow them to grasp other implements, most commonly among them are the needle-holder forceps, used to hold sutures, and tooth extraction forceps, which allow the surgeon to firmly grasp the tooth during extraction.

Endodontic Instruments

• Endodontists treat problems within the tooth where the soft tissue, pulp and nerves lie. They are best known for performing the root canal, a procedure designed to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or has become infected. Their tools are specifically designed for cleaning out the root canal. Prior to any invasive work, an electronic apex locator is used to determine the length of the canal space, which eliminates the need for X-rays. A high-speed drill fitted with a specialized carbide bur is first used to tunnel into the canal. Progressively finer hand tools are then used to remove the canal pulp, starting with the broach, a flexible, tapered and pointed implement with fishhook extensions. A flexible root canal reamer is used to enlarge the canal or remove old sealant or filling, followed by the use of a series of files, most commonly the H and K files, with cutting edges are finer and allow for more precise work. The canal is then sealed with a gutta percha heat gun, which distributes and warms the sealant, making it easily malleable.

Periodontic Instruments

• Periodontists treat the supporting and surrounding tissues of the teeth and are focused on the health of the gums. The blunt periodontal probe is their primary diagnostic tool, and is used to measure the crevice between teeth and gums. Inflammation can cause this crevice to deepen into a pocket, which is a sign of periodontal disease. If present, a periodontist will use ultrasonic cleaning instruments, periodontal curettes and scalers in a process called root scaling, which unlike general cleaning removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line.

Prosthodontic Instruments

• Prosthodontics deals with the management and treatment of conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and tissues. They may employ dental bridges, dentures, veneers and other substitutes. They use impression trays to take molds of existing teeth and gums, prosthodontic spatulas for handling dental waxes and mixing impression materials, prothodontic knives to compound, plaster and trim, and the double-headed roach carver, which is used to carve the wax of impressions. Prosthodontists may also use crown removers to remove old crowns.