Are you looking to open up your very own dental clinic? Or maybe you're a dental patient wondering what all the equipment is in your dentist's office?
Whether you're a patient or an aspiring dentist, it's important to be familiar with the different types of dental machines and equipment that you'll see in a dental office.
Check out this dental machine guide to discover the top pieces of equipment you need in your dental office.
Basic Instruments
Every dental tray needs to have some basic instruments for cleaning teeth. You will certainly notice them when you drop by dental clinics like family dentist indialantic for your regular checkups. These dental instruments include:
Dental Examination Mirror
This instrument is very essential, as it allows dentists and hygienists to easily explore the inside of a patient's mouth. You can use this type of mirror both for direct and indirect viewing, and it can also act as a mouth separator.
While this is a small and basic piece of equipment, it's highly practical and helpful when it comes to getting a good view of your work.
Dental Probes
A dental probe is another basic instrument that you'll always see on a dental tray. While probes can look a bit scary at first glance, they're completely painless.
This tool allows your dentist to explore your mouth to make sure that everything is in order.
Generally speaking, there are three main types of probes that your dentist will use to examine your mouth.
These include sickle probes, periodontal probes, and scanning probes. A sickle probe is used to find oral issues in your mouth, such as cavities. Periodontal probes are used to measure your periodontal pockets and search for any issues with your gums.
Scanning probes are used to determine bacteria levels, caries, and other issues.
Forceps
Forceps are a basic instrument that can help a dentist perform a variety of tasks. This instrument is used to hold and separate tissue and transfer small objects in and out of the oral cavity.
Depending on the task your dentist needs to perform, he/she may use a specific type of forceps.
Pliers
Pliers are another very important piece of dental equipment.
While found in every dentist's office, pliers are most often used for orthodontic treatments. Pliers allow your dental specialist to bend hooks and cut through dowels and wires.
Depending on the function the dentist needs to perform, there are a variety of different pliers to choose from.
Small-Scale Equipment / Rotary Instruments
If you see your dentist using an instrument that's connected to a hose or another piece of equipment, then they're likely using a rotary instrument.
Here are the different types of rotary instruments:
- Micromotors: A micromotor is a rotary instrument that's used to treat semi-hard dental tissue
- Straight Handpieces: This rotary instrument is not typically used inside the mouth. Rather, it's used to define dental implants
- Contra-Angle Handpiece: This instrument is used to remove decaying material in your mouth, and it also prepares your mouth for crowns, cavities, and filling removal
When most of us think of turbines, we think of the huge wind turbines that make electricity.
But there's also something called a dental turbine, which is used to remove hard tissue from your tooth- in particular, enamel.
Two other very important small pieces of dental equipment include light-curing lamps and apex locators.
A light-curing lamp contains ultraviolet light that can act on light-curing materials, causing them to harden and polymerize in a short period of time.
An apex locator is an endodontic device that's used during root canals.
Other Important Pieces of Dental Equipment
In addition to the above, here are some other pieces of important dental equipment and dental machine tools that you'll see in your dentist's office:
X-Ray Machine
An x-ray machine is used for performing radiographic tests. When the x-rays pass through your mouth, your teeth and bones will absorb more light than the gums and other parts of your mouth.
On the final x-ray image, your teeth will appear lighter will areas of decay will appear darker, as they don't absorb as much of the x-ray light. This makes it easy for your dentist to find the problem spots in your mouth and treat them.
How often you need x-rays will depend on your personal oral health situation, but typically, dentists recommend getting x-rays done once per year.
Dental Syringe
If you're receiving a dental treatment that requires local anesthesia, then the anesthesia will be administered via a dental syringe.
Syringes are also used to rinse your mouth with water and dry it with air. While a syringe can feel uncomfortable when administered, the discomfort typically eases within a few seconds.
Anesthetic
While your teeth may be hard and tough on the outside, underneath the enamel, they're incredibly sensitive.
For your dentist to be able to operate on you without causing any pain, a local anesthetic must be administered to numb your mouth. Some dental practices even offer pain-free sedation, so you don't even notice that your tooth has been numbed.
Dental Drill
A dental drill is used to remove decay that's attached to your tooth before filling the tooth in with a cavity. Sometimes it's also used for smoothing and polishing teeth once the operation is complete.
Mold
To get an accurate impression of the inside of your mouth, a dentist will fill a mold with liquid and have you bite down on it.
This will result in an impression that can be filled with plaster and hardened in order to create a model of your teeth. Molds are often used to identify problems, and they're also used in the process of creating caps, crowns, braces, and mouthguards.
Dental Machine and Equipment Options: Now You Know
Now that you know about the different types of dental machine and equipment pieces, you should feel much more comfortable next time you go in for a dentist check-up.
Be sure to check back in with our blog for more dental news and tips. If you've got questions on dentistry and other healthcare issues, we've got answers! Visit the Dental or Healthcare sections of the Frugal Finance Blog to learn more about top dental machine options, saving money on dentistry, or starting your own dental practice.
