Vista Dental

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Dental Instruments

You’re probably familiar with some of the commonly used instruments in dental offices, but do you know their names? At Vista Dental in Medicine Hat, we want our patients to feel comfortable with their care, and we believe that people feel better when they have the words to describe things.


During the regular cleaning, our hygienists will use a handheld mirror to see inside a patient’s mouth and an explorer to break up calculus on the teeth. The explorer is a hooked metal instrument and is also used to test the stability of enamel and whether there are infections in the gum pockets. Scalers are flattened hooks used to remove debris from below the gum line. A hose called an evacuator is used periodically to suction away broken up calculus.


The most common issue we encounter during routine cleanings is tooth decay. Before removing it, we’ll deliver a localized anesthetic through a syringe. Our Waterlase instrument can be used to remove decayed enamel without the heat and vibrations of a conventional drill. The filling material is applied using a variety of blunt-tipped instruments called burnishers, which are also used to contour it to fit perfectly with the patient’s teeth. Should a tooth need to be removed entirely, it is wiggled with a long, shallow spoon called an elevator until it can be lifted out with reverse-action pliers.


Vista Dental is located at 7 Strachan Bay SE, Medicine Hat, Alberta, T1B 4Y2, Canada. To schedule an appointment, call 403-548-7077 or visit Vista Dental MH.

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