Going to the dentist can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially if you don't know what to expect. To help you feel more prepared for your next visit, here's a comprehensive guide to some of the tools your dentist may use. One of the most recognizable pieces of equipment is the mouth mirror. This consists of a small mirror mounted on the end of a thin rod, which is used to help dentists and hygienists see hard-to-reach places.
The back of the molars and the inside of the upper teeth are more easily seen with the use of a mirror, and it can also illuminate the mouth by reflecting light to facilitate the examination. Another common tool is the dental explorer. This device comes with a pointed probe and can sometimes cause slight discomfort when pinching you. It's used to explore a tooth, natural or restored, and investigate it.
Dental drills are used to remove cavities or to shape the structure of a tooth before inserting a filling or crown. The amount of pain you feel depends on the procedure and not on the use of this tool, but dentists will do everything they can to limit discomfort with anesthesia if necessary. Local anesthetic is injected into the gums through a dental syringe. You may feel a slight prick at first, but that's all.
After that, local anesthesia will numb the nerves in your teeth and gums so that you don't feel discomfort during the procedure. The dental suction unit is very useful for removing excess saliva or blood directly from the mouth during certain procedures such as veneers, which require the tooth to remain dry. Dentists are also trained in using dental x-ray machines. Panoramic X-ray machines take images of the patient's entire mouth at once, while intraoral machines can provide images of a single tooth.
Dental lasers can be used to whiten teeth or, in some cases, instead of drills. Oral surgery may require the use of a surgical magnifying glass or microscope. An autoclave is used to sterilize tools, while probes are used to examine the entire mouth and make sure everything is in good condition. A sickle cell tube helps detect any newly formed cavities and other dental health problems, while a periodontal probe allows dentists to measure periodontal pockets and locate other oral problems such as gum recession. The dental drill is designed to eliminate any decay connected to the tooth before it is filled. However, sometimes it's used to smooth and polish the affected tooth after the procedure is finished.
The dental drill will cause an unusual sensation of vibration throughout the mouth while removing cavities, but this is perfectly normal and not a cause for alarm. In cases where the substance inside a cavity becomes soft and soft, an excavator with a spoon would be used to extract it instead of using a drill. To ensure that you don't feel any pain during certain dental procedures, your dentist will apply local anesthetic that will numb your entire mouth. Now that you know what tools your dentist may use during your visit, you can feel more prepared for your next appointment.
