Equipment You’ll See at the Dentist
Your dentist has spent many years training in all the techniques and treatment options that can help improve your oral health and appearance. They also have access to many useful tools, equipment, materials and cutting-edge technology to aid them in their work. Here are some of the items you can expect to see when you next visit the dentist:
Dental probes
There are several different types of dental probe that can look a bit unnerving but are simply used to explore the mouth and check all areas. Different probes include a periodontal probe for checking any possible problems like gum recession and a sickle probe for finding cavities. For Dental Equipment Suppliers, visit https://www.photonsurgicalsystems.co.uk/
Mirrors
You’ll most definitely see one of these during your next check-up. Using a mirror makes it much easier for the dentist to get a good view of what’s going in the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth like the back of your teeth. This gives your dentist the best chance to see if there are any potential problems.
Anaesthetic
If you need any treatment, your dentist will most likely administer some anaesthetic as the enamel inside your teeth is highly sensitive. To save you any pain or discomfort, a local anaesthetic will be administered to numb the area. This is usually done with a syringe, but it’s nothing to be alarmed about and often only feels like a tiny scratch or pinch. Syringes are also used during treatment to rinse the mouth or dry it to help the dentist complete their treatment.
Drill
This the piece of equipment that invokes the most fear after injections. The loud noise and vibrations you feel can seem unnerving and uncomfortable but shouldn’t cause you any pain. The drill does the job of removing decay from a tooth before a filling is placed inside a cavity. It can also be used to polish teeth after treatment is complete.
Scaler
These are used to remove the hard build-up of plaque that accumulates around the gum line. Sometimes it can harden to a point where brushing alone will not shift it, so a scaler is used by the dentist or hygienist to carefully scrape out the hardened plaque.
Suction Tool
During treatment, bits of debris and saliva accumulate and get in the way of the procedure. Small suction hoses are used to remove any obstructions in your mouth.
Mould
This is a liquid material poured into a mould for use in getting an accurate impression of your teeth. You’ll be asked to bite down on it and the resulting impression is then filled with plaster and left to set to make a model of your teeth. This procedure is used to identify cavities and when making caps, crowns, braces and mouth guards.
X-rays
If you visit the dentist with a suspected problem, it might not always be visibly obvious to the dentist. This is when an x-ray will be used which gives a more detailed image of what’s going on with the teeth and bones. This method can also identify early problems before you might even have noticed them.
