The Anatomy of Your Teeth
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When you visit your dentist, you probably notice they have a whole host of equipment to help them examine your mouth, diagnose any problems, and treat them. Perhaps you have wondered about what they are and how they can help. We thought it would be nice to put together a short guide of some of the most common equipment you’re likely to see.
Dental Probe
There are different types of dental probes, and they are extremely useful when we explore your mouth. We use a dental probe to locate cavities or soft spots on your teeth. A different type of dental probe called a periodontal probe is used to check your gum health, carefully measuring the depth of any spaces between your gums and teeth that can indicate problems such as gum recession and gum disease.
Mouth Mirror
It isn’t easy to see the entire mouth, so a mouth mirror helps us get a good view inside, including the right to the back of the mouth. It helps us easily check your teeth from all angles to identify any problems.
Dental Syringe
We use a syringe to administer a local anaesthetic, ensuring you feel comfortable before we begin any dental treatment. If you feel anxious about having a local anaesthetic, there is no need to worry, as we can apply a numbing agent to your gum before using the syringe. We can apply various techniques to ensure administering local anaesthetic is a more comfortable process. Syringes are also used to rinse your mouth during treatments.
Dental Drill
A dental drill is an extremely useful piece of equipment used if we need to prepare a tooth for a filling or another restoration like a crown or bridge. Initially, it can feel a little strange because the drill vibrates, but there is nothing to worry about. We also use a dental drill to finish restorations by polishing them and your teeth.
Suction Device
While working in your mouth, saliva and other debris soon begin to build up, so a suction device is a small hose that removes these substances, providing the dentist with a clean environment in which to work.
Dental X-Ray
Dental x-rays are invaluable for showing areas hidden from view, such as the contact areas between your teeth or a tooth root. We use dental x-rays as a diagnostic tool or to check the general condition of your teeth. Our digital dental x-rays are extremely safe, and we only take an x-ray when necessary.
Spoon Excavator
Tooth decay can leave a tooth feeling very soft and spongy, and sometimes we only need to use a spoon excavator to remove this material instead of a drill.
Burnisher
Once the procedure is complete, we use a burnisher to smooth your teeth, polish them or remove any scratches. They are extremely useful for ensuring a dental restoration is properly finished and neat and tidy.
Scaler
When your teeth are cleaned professionally, a scaler helps scrape or scale away calculus or tartar from around your gumline. Getting rid of calculus helps you maintain good oral health more easily.