During my first visit to a dental clinic, I tend to notice that there are many different dental kits or dental instruments that are laid down beside the dental chair. A dentist and dental nurse use a variety of dental instruments/equipment for examining, cleaning, cutting and restoring teeth.
Practical Identification of Dental instruments
Here is a video explaining the basic dental instruments.
What is the instrumentation?
Types of instruments?
- Working end: Is a part that is used to carry out the purpose and the function of an instrument.
- The shank: It is the part of an instrument that connects the working end and the handle.it may be a curve or straight.
- And handle: The handle is the part that we hold. For example Double-ended instrument I.e two working end for example spoon excavator and carver. The single-ended instrument, for example, Coupland elevator. Corn socket instrument I.e they are separated from the shank instrument and working end and permit instrument exchange or replacement for example mouth mirror, handpieces and bur.
Physical identification of dental instruments include:
- Basic instruments
- Basic Materials used in dentistry
- Local anaesthesia
- Instruments and materials used in rubber dam placement
- Instruments and materials used in moisture control
- Handpieces, Burs the rotary attachment
- Matrix band and matrix retainers
- Elevators
- Extraction forceps
- Impression trays
- Orthodontics instruments.
Dental instruments can be either hand-held or rotary (for example-driven in a handpiece) and some can be of fiber optic light sources and ultrasonic equipment.
Dental hand instruments
The types of hand instruments can be categorized based on their function:
- Examining the mouth and teeth
- Scaling or professional cleaning of teeth
- Cutting teeth and removing cavities
- Placing and condensing filling materials
- Carving and finishing dental fillings
- Miscellaneous types.
General features of hand instrument design
Most of the hand-held instruments are made of stainless steel or sometimes carbon steel. Chisels and scalers often have tungsten carbide tips. The basic design of a hand instrument has a blade, a shank, and a handle.
Basic instruments
Basic Materials needed in Dentistry
3. Cotton wool: For cleaning up the saliva, blood and to stop bleeding.
Local Anesthesia
Uses of Topical Anaesthetics
- Prevention of pain from needles during injections.
- Relief of painful sockets, ulcers, and wounds
- Prevention of gingival discomfort while taking copper ring impression.
Below are 112 Best Dental instruments and their uses:
- Dental mirror: It’s used for visualization of the oral cavity or for viewing the patient mouth.
- Dental probe: It’s used to detect the depth of caries or the depth of caries.
- College tweezer: It’s used for picking cotton wool or gauze into the patient mouth.
- Dental tray: It’s used for picking dental materials or instruments.
- Coupland Elevator: It’s used for the expansion of the socket or dilating the socket.
- Scalpel holder: For holding a scalpel blade during a surgical procedure.
- Periosteal elevator: For raising flap from the floor of the mucosa membrane.
- Bone file: It’s used for file-in bone.
- Push scaler: It’s used for removing debris or calculus from the patient mouth/teeth.
- Spoon excavator: It’s used for removing debris or plaque from the patient mouth/teeth.
- Fine excavators: Used to remove soft food deposit.
- Mixing spatula: It’s used for mixing dental materials(E.G .alginate).
- Amalgam carrier: It’s used for taking/putting amalgam into the prepared cavity.
- Amalgam plugger: it is used to condense filling materials and apply pressure. Also known as amalgam condenser.
- Plaster knife: It’s used for plasterwork.
- Wax knife: It’s used for waxwork.
- Model: It’s used for demonstration, positive liveness of the patient’s mouth.
- Dental syringe: It’s used for introducing local anesthesia into the patient mouth.
- Fishtail elevator: It’s used for expansion of the socket.
- Cryer Elevator: It’s used for the expansion of the socket.
- Winter elevator: It’s used for expansion of the socket.
- Hospital pattern elevator: It’s used for expansion of the socket.
- War wick’s James elevator: It’s used for expansion of the socket.
- Elevators: Instruments commonly used for dental extraction. (Warwick James elevators, Cryer elevators, Winter elevators, Periosteal elevators, Molts elevators, Root-tip pick elevator, Heidbrink root tip elevators, Crane root tip elevators, Potts elevators, Cogswell-A & B elevators, Flat elevators, Miller’s apex luxators, Crossbar apex luxators). They are all used for the purpose of elevating the tooth out of the socket.
- Suturing materials: It’s used for suturing the injury path.
- Suturing tips: It’s used for extracting excess blood or saliva from the mouth.
- Dental needle: It’s used to introduce local anesthesia into the patient mouth(it has to types long and short).
- Disposable needle and syringe: It’s used for flushing the prepared cavity/Also for the irrigation process.
- Lower impression tray: It’s used for taking a lower impression of the teeth/ mouth.
- Upper impression tray: It’s used for taking an upper impression of the teeth/month.
- Periodontal probe: It’s used for measuring the depth of periodontal socket or depth of caries.
- Wooden spatula: It’s can also be used for cheek retractor / it also serves as an examination set or it’s used for mixing dental materials.
- Upper right molar forceps: It’s used for the extraction of the upper right molar tooth.
- Upper left molar forceps: It’s used for the extraction of the upper left molar tooth.
- Universal molar forceps(upper): It’s used for the extraction of both upper left and upper right molar tooth.
- Universal molar forceps(lower): It’s used for the extraction of both lower right and lower left molar teeth.
- Straight forceps or upper anterior forceps: It’s used for extraction of the upper anterior tooth.
- Lower anterior forceps: It’s used for extraction of the lower anterior tooth.
- Lower molar forceps: It’s used for the extraction of the lower molar tooth.
- Lower premolar forceps: It’s used for the extraction of a lower premolar tooth.
- Upper premolar forceps: It’s used for the extraction of an upper premolar tooth.
- Sickle scaler: It’s used for removing calculus from the tips of the cervical region.
- Ball burnisher: It’s used for smoothing the canal or during filling of the tooth.
- File: It’s used for enlarging the canal.
- Egg burnisher: It’s used for smoothing during filling.
- Reamers: It’s used for enlarging the canal.
- barbed broach: It’s used for removing the dead pulp (necrotic pulp)
- Dental chair: It’s used for sitting the patient during any dental procedure/surgery.
- Shade guide: It’s used in choosing shade I.e color of the teeth.
- Amalgam edge: It’s used for preventing overhanging amalgam.
- Scalpel: It’s used for cutting during surgical procedures.
- Stock teeth: It’s used for replacing mixing teeth.
- Cheatle forceps: It’s used for picking instruments.
- Condenser: It’s used for condensing restorative materials into the cavity.
- Bayonet: It’s used for extracting the upper retained root.
- Root forceps: It’s used for extracting retained root(lower teeth).
- Mallet: It’s used for extracting the retained root.
- Chisel: It’s used for extracting the retained root.
- Mortal and pestle: It’s used for mixing amalgam.
- Amalgamator(electronics one): It’s used for mixing amalgam.
- Saliva ejector: It’s used for removing excessive saliva from the floor of the mouth.
- Mouth prop: It’s used for opening mouth during surgical operations.
- Probe briault: It’s used to detect interproximal decay.
- Probe moon: It’s used to detect loose bones and root in the socket.
- periodontal curette: are used for the purpose of scaling and root planing.
- Probe measures: It’s used to detect the depth of pocket around the periodontal.
- Mouth gag: It’s used to open mouth during dental procedures.
- Tissue forceps: It’s used for holding tissue by the dental nurse during a surgical procedure.
- Bristle brush: It’s used for brushing during scaling and polishing.
- Mixing slab: It’s used for mixing dental materials.
- Film hanger: It’s used for hanging x-ray film.
- Mixing bowl: It’s used for mixing dental materials(e.g Alginate, dental stone).
- Dental flask: It’s used for the flasking denture.
- Lead coat: It’s used for protection during the x-ray procedure.
- Lecrol carver: It’s used for carving or removing a pimple from the surface of the model.
- Carver: It’s used for removing excess dental materials from the patient mouth.
- Wirecutter: It’s used for cutting dental ash wire.
- Dental scissors: It’s used for cutting stainless steel wire during a dental procedure.
- Matrix band: It serves as a mixing wall and it allows amalgam to be packed into the cavity.
- Matrix retainer: It helps in retaining the matrix band.
- Janquet: It’s used for removing sub-gingival calculus.
- Handpiece and bur: It’s used to gain access into the cavity.
- Measurement paper point: It’s used for drying the canal.
- Short dental needle: It’s used for infiltrating.
- Long dental needle: It’s used for blocking.
- Stainless steel wire: It’s used for inter-maxillary fixation.
- Gutta-percha: It’s used for obturating( when replacing the pulp).
- X-ray view: It’s used to view x-ray during a dental procedure.
- Ultrasonic scaler: It’s used for scaling and polishing.
- Glass slab: It’s used for mixing lining materials.
- Electronics ultrasonic machine: It’s used for scaling and polishing.
- Autoclave: It’s used to sterilize dental instruments after use.
- Surgical blade: For cutting during a surgical procedure.
- Phomopressor: It’s used in lining the canal during pulpotomy.
- Elastic module: It’s used to hold down the ash wire into the bracket.
- Artery forceps: It’s used to sit an elastic module.
- Bite registration wax: To check the accuracy of the teeth(the bite and the occlusion).
- Ruler gauge: It’s used for measuring.
- Adam’s plier: It’s used to band wire together inside the patient mouth.
- Elastic separator: It’s used to separate a contact point(it comes in various colors).
- Paper point: this is for drying the canal/for obturating the pulp to replace.
- Ligation turner: to thick in the wire.
- Ash contouring wire: To give you the shape of the ash bar.
- Bird beak wire: To form coil and band a wire.
- osteotomy: it is used in the dental implants to cut the bone. Similar to chisel.
- Lentulo spiral is a dental instrument used to properly insert root canal sealer and cement during a root canal, and endodontic therapy
- Half Hollenbach: Used to test for overhangs or flash.
- Dental hatchers: Used to dilate the tooth cavity and gain more entrance and removed the thin carious enamel.
- Willis gauge: Willis bite gauge is used to measure the positions of the mandible in the rest and bite positions
- Band pusher: It is used to push orthodontic bands to properly seat them and precisely adapt them around the entire contour of teeth.
- Gutta Percha removal files: As the name implies is used to remove gutta-percha from smaller and more curved canals.
- K-files: Endodontic K-files are major endodontic tools for the cleaning and shaping of the root canal systems.
Base on analysis and research, some of this instruments above are their manufacturers name and they are available online. No any modifications whatsoever . I just stated there uses.
DENTAL INSTRUMENTS NAMES PICTURES AND FUNCTIONS
Diagnostic
Explorers
Double explorers comprised # 17 for gingival, calculus detection and #23 for carrying detection
Use: For detecting and exploring abrasion
Probes
Length of 6 mm for standard control point
Use: For checking the depth of the periodontal pocket
vertically or horizontally
Explorer/Probes, 6mm
The standard control point for diagnostic patient
DE‐01‐002
Mirror Handle
Variety of mirror with size, style and handles, double mirrors, octagonal mirrors, mirror head front surface, anterior, posterior
Periodontal
Sickle/Jacquette Scalers
Anterior premolar/posterior, towner, white side, odont, morse.
Use: For removing calculus on the surface of the gingival area.
Black Titanium Instruments
Length of 6 mm for standard control point
Sickle Scalers/Curettes
Facial/lingual, buccal/lingual
Use: For removing supragingival calculus
Derbinement/Furcation
Buccal and lingual, mesial and distal, anterior, labial lingual
Use: For removing residual calculus after ultrasonic scaling for deep pockets.
Periodontal Surgery
Surgical and Knives/files
Kirkland, Orban, crane Kaplan, sanders type– KM3/4, KCK-3, KOR1/2L
Use: For removal of soft tissue, and for removal of granulomatous
Surgical Curettes
Kirkland, Kramer Nevins(KN3/4, KN4), sugarman(3/6,9/10, 11/12) Periotome
Use: For removal of remaining tissue of infected gingival area after extraction
Periotomes
PT-1, PT-2, PT-3, PT-4 (titanium regular, titanium angle)
Use: For removal of teeth with minimum tissue damage
Surgical Chisels
13k/TG– 3.5/3mm(3.5/4.5mm), 13k/TG titanium, KN1/2, C36/37, SOLT 3/4
Use: For scraping out and reshaping bone; for removal of flaps and splitting bone
Implants instruments
Osteotomes
Concave STR, Convex CVD
(2mm,3mm,3.3mm,4mm,5mm),
Use: For bone spreading for implant
Sinus Lift instruments
Bonescoop 5mm, periosteal ,bone plugger 3×1.5mm, bone graft 1.0/1.7mm (titanium, serrated)
Use: For separation of sinus lining from bone
Osteotomes 2
OSTM( 3mm-4.7mm), OSTM STR (1.8mm-4.7mm), straight, Jovanovic
Use: used in surgical procedures for preparation of implants
Endo Forceps
Endo Forceps (75mm, 95mm, 110mm)
Use: For implantation
Bone Syringe
Bone syringe (3mm,3.5mm,4mm)
Use: For implantation
Castroviejo
Castroviejo STR (8.5cm,17cm )
Use: For implantation
Tissue Plier
Adson (12cm, 15cm), Crane Kaplan 15cm, self-locking 16cm, tissue forceps T/C Gerald 18cm
Use: For preventing slipping while reducing the weight over 20%
Tissue, Cotton and Dressing pliers
Atraumatic 18cm, Allison baby 12.5cm, Allison 15cm
Use: For implantation
Cotton Pliers
Adson (12cm, 15cm), adson baby of 12.5size
Use: For implantation support
Titanium instruments
Titanium Molt-9, PR-3, 24G, Buser
Use: For implantation
Accu Luxating
Accu lux (straight, curved, spade, distal, mesial, large distal, large mesial)
Use: For pulling, lifting up the periosteum and loosening the tooth from the lip
Scalpel
The scalpel of standard 180 degrees and 16.2cm
Use: For implantation
Operative
PKT Waxing
Gold Fogel –1,3R
Use: For shaping, carving or pouring molten wax
Amalgam Carriers
Small 1.5mm, medium 2mm, large 2.5mm, Jumbo 3mm
Use: For carrying and dispensing amalgam materials
Gingival retractors/cord packers
GRM-(2,3,4), GR-10, cord packers serrated
Use: For protecting tissue during cavity preparation and placement of composite fillings
Plastic filling
Anterior /Posterior—darby perry trimmer (3R, 21L,49, H2, B2, IPCOA)
Use: For composite placing and shaping
Endodontic
Pluggers and condensors
RCP set of (0.3, 0.4,0.5,0.55,0.6,0.65,0.75) for anterior / posterior– 8P,8.5P,9P,9.5P,10P,10.5P,11P,11.5P
Use: For vertical pressing and compacting filling materials
Spreaders and heat carriers
RCS sets( RCS 30,40,50,60), heat carriers (0.20,0.25,0.35,0.55)
Use: For filling solid medicine materials into the endodontic area during lateral condensation
Anterior (6,9,9s,212), Premolar(0,1,1A,2,W2, 2A, 2AS, 27N,
29),lower molar(3,W3,7,W7,7A),upper molar(56,56S,4,
Use: stabilizes and holds the dam secure
Ivory Lightweight
Ivory lightweight 17cm, brewer 17.5cm, stoke 17.5,
Surgical
Periosteal
Bennet, P-149 , titanium molt-9, PR-3, P15,P16,24G, HF-20, periostal elevater
Use: For retracting periosteum after removing gingival tissue
Surgical Curettes (Spoon)
86 lucas, 87 lucas, 87 lucas, (8-12)miller, molt-2,molt-4,molt –5L,molt-5R
Use: For curettage and cyst removal
Bone Chisels/files
Single bevel BF1x(B1 bevel,miller), Gardner (1,2,5,5R,6,9), Chandler (1,2,4) ,
(235g,130g) mallet, mead-2mallet
Use: For final smoothening/removing bone by pushing/pulling out
Chisels and Gouges
Partsch 17cm, freer 16cm, Lucas 16cm
Use: For scooping bone
Bone Rongeurs
Blumental 15cm, Blumenthal 45degree, 14.5cm , Blumenthal 90degree, 14.5cm
Use: For tooth extraction as a whole by trimming and recontouring alveolar bone
Root Splinter
Root fragments straight (45, 90 degrees), peet sharp (15, 45, 90 degrees)
Use: For extracting root tips of the tooth where normal forceps cannot reach
Without rathet (14.5cm,18cm,20cm), curved (17.5cm, 21cm)
Use: For lockable forceps for seizing the end of a blood vessel to control haemorrhage
Pean 12.5, baby-crile(pean) 14cm, crile 14cm, Halsted 12.5cm, micro-halsted 12.5cm (curved)
Use: For lockable forceps for seizing the end of a blood vessel to control haemorrhage
Needle holders Crile-murry 15cm, 18cm, Adson 17.5cm, Castraoviejo 16cm, Boynton 12cm
Use: For holding and guiding the needle securely during suturing
Gum Scissors
Dean 16.5cm, Matzenbaum 14cm, Locklin 16cm, mayo 14.5cm CVD, Lagrange CVD 11.5cm, suture 14cm, Castroviejo 10cm
Use: For cutting threads and gum
Tungsten Carbide insert
Metzenbaum 14.5cm, goldman 13cm, wire cutting 12cm, dean 16.5cm , locklin 16.5cm, Kelly 16cm
Use: For cutting threads and gum
Raspstories
Koning 15.5cm , Terwilliger 14cm , 16cm; Tessier 20cm, 22cm,
Use: For hooking skin during surgery, also as retractors for holding back the lips and cheeks
Skin hook and retractors
Frazier 13cm, joseph 16.5cm, gillies 18cm
,standell-stille 18cm, langenbech-green 16cm, roux 16.5cm
Use: For hooking skin during surgery, for holding back the lips, cheeks and tongue
Mouth Gag
Use: For keeping the mouth open
Scalpel handles
Scalpel of size 13.5cm, 12cm, 14.5cm , double head 14.5cm, scalpel 180degree;16.2cm
Use: For holding a mess blade
Syringes
Syringe 1.8ml, 2.2ml; project
Use: For injecting anaesthetics from a cartridge; for supplying air, water or a mist in three ways.
Elevators
Crane pick 8, Seldin 1L, Seldin 1R, Seldin 4L, Cryer M25, apical 3L, Flohr sharp end
Use: For pulling, lifting up the periosteum and to loosen the tooth from the periodontal.
Root tip picks/teasers
Use: For removing residual root tips of the tooth
Lower molars cow-horn beak, lower molar left side, upper anterior 1AF, Upper molars hook handle 10H, 15, 16S, upper molars/incisors, root canines and premolars strong beak
Use: For extracting teeth from the alveolar bone
Extraction Forceps/pedodontics pattern
158 upper molars universal, 160 lower molars universal, lower central and roots, upper central, 5 lower incisors
Use: For extracting teeth from the alveolar bone
Crown instruments
Crown Scissors
Straight saw edge 10.5cm, curved saw edge 10.5cm, universal 12cm
Use: For removing crowns permanently by cutting off the seal between tooth and crown after splitting
Crown Spreader
Crown spreader 14cm, flat; teeth
Use: For splitting and spreading the crown open for removal
Crown remover
Crown remover of size between 15cm and 20cm is of standard
Use: For gripping onto the crown and removing from the tooth
A solid partial set of 10, a perforated partial set of 10 (upper/lower), solid pull denture, a perforated full denture
Use: For forming a crown frame
Orthodontic
Cutters
Universal distal end cutter, distal end cutter slim/handle, wire cutter(hard, soft)
Use: For cutting wire during orthodontic procedures
Band remover
Ticker/straight/long/angled/adhesive/bracke t remover
Use: For removing orthodontic bands from teeth
Pliers
Universal 16cm, Aderer 14.5, Double serrated 14cm, arrow clasp forming 12cm, pointed jaw 14cm, mosquito plier 12.5cm
Use: For bending wire during orthodontic procedures
Matrix retainers
Ivory 8(5mm, 6mm,7mm ), Cleveland wide, Tofflemire universal
Use: For holding metal bands or strips around the tooth creating a temporary mould.
Dental unit
Chair mounted dental unit
Wax Knives
Sizes of 12.5cm,17cm
Use: For carving wax in laboratories.
Towel Clamps
Sizes of 8cm, 9cm, 11cm, 13.5cm
Use: For securing drapes to the skin and for holding tissue
Cavitrons
Cavitron 25khz, 30khz, 10/30khz; internal and external flow scaler inserters
Instruments used for placing and condensing filling materials
- Plastic instruments are used to convey and shape filling materials and are usually flat blades that do not use heavy pressure. Some instruments have rounded ends for shaping and burnishing the surfaces of fillings. Plastic instruments are usually made of stainless steel for most materials though there are also thin Teflon-coated or titanium nitride instruments which are non-stick for composite fillings.
- Condensers or pluggers instruments are used for compressing and forming filling materials. You must apply heavy pressure in order to use these instruments properly. So, therefore, these instruments are usually used for metal or amalgam fillings.
Instruments used for carving and finishing fillings
Carving and finishing instruments have sharp or semi-sharp blades of various shapes. They are used to carve materials by cutting and scraping.
Instruments and materials used in rubber dam placement
- Rubber dam: Prevents entry of moisture to a cavity, especially prior to insertion of silicate fillings, and during root canal therapy.
- Rubber dam clamps: Hold dam on teeth.
- Rubber dam forceps: Aid placement of clamps on teeth.
- Rubber dam frame: Holds dam in position around the mouth.
Materials: lubricant, Cotton wool.
Instruments and materials used in moisture control
Handpieces, Burs the rotary attachments
- Mandrels
- Unmounted Green Abrasive Stones
- Unmounted Green Abrasive Disks
- Mounted Green Abrasive Stones, Disks, And Points
- Bristle Brushes; cup, wheel, Tooth polishing.
Burs
Matrix band and matrix retainers
Dental Elevators
- Fishtail elevator
- Cryer elevator
- Winter elevator
- Coupland elevator
- Warwick James elevator
- Periosteal elevator
- Hospital elevator
Extraction forceps
- Lower molar forceps: This has two beaks, facing each other and faced downward. Uses: This is used to extract right or left lower molar teeth.
- The extraction of upper molar forceps: There are two types of upper molar forceps; Right upper, left upper.
- Upper right molar forceps: The beak part faces my right hand and the mouth of the instrument faces upward. Uses: it is used for extraction of right upper molar teeth.
- Upper left molar forceps: The beak part faces my left hand and the mouth also faces upwardly. Uses: used for extraction of left upper molar teeth.
- Lower anterior forceps: This has a somehow flat head making both mouths facing downward. Uses: For the extraction of lower anterior teeth.
- Lower premolar forceps: This has a puff ( semi-circled ) head, with the mouth facing down. Uses: used for extraction of lower premolar teeth.
- Rongeur’s
- Upper bayonets (awkwardly placed wisdom teeth)
- Lower incisors, premolars, roots.
- Upper read’s (canines, premolars, roots)
Impression trays
Types of an impression tray
- Upper impression tray
- Lower impression tray
- Edentulous patient
Orthodontics instruments.
- Artery forceps: To sit elastic modules.
- Elastic module: To hold down the ash wire into the bracket
- Elastic separator: To separate a contact point.
- Safe distal end wire cutter: Use for cutting wire.
- Band pusher: To sit the band.
- Adams plier: To band wire inside the mouth.
- Bracket holder: To grip bracket inside the mouth.
- Ruler Guage: For measuring
- Sep a ring: Separator or module separator
- Cheek retractor: To retract or expand.
Every effort as been made to ensure dental professionals are provided a theoretical background upon which the dental team can base their practical work on. However, no website can take the place of practical experience, and no attempt as been made to give detailed advice on those aspects of work which can best be learned by practical demonstration.
Basic Dental instruments Names and Pictures pdf
RELATED READING
- 5 Ways To Clean and Sterilize Dental Instruments
- Dental tools and their uses
- Moisture Control in Dentistry
- Dental Explorer: Periodontal Instrument, Dental Excavator,and their uses
- Dental Amalgam tray set-up (Silver-Colored Dental Fillings)
- Dental tray setup for composite fillings
- CROWN PREP TRAY SET-UP INSTRUMENTS
- 10 Basic Prophylaxis Tray Setup
- Buying Dental Instruments Supplier
References
- “Classification of Dental Instruments”. Arkansas Tech University. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
- Physical Properties of Five Brands of K-Files – NCBI. Retrieved 2020-01-16.
