DENTAL INSTRUMENTS YOUR HYGIENIST USES
Manual instruments
Hand held mirror
-hand-held mirrors can be angled and rotated easily allowing your hygienist to examine hard to areas in your mouth , to look for Tartar and signs of decay
Hand scalers
-hook shaped instruments with
pointed tips
-used to remove plaque and tartar
Curettes
-similar to hand scalers
-have rounded ends and are used to clear away tartar deposits underneath the gums
Ultrasonic Scalers
-used to clear away plaque and tartar from the surface of the teeth.
-powered by pneumatic turbines and vibrate to break down plaque and tartar.
-provides a deeper clean
-gentler than hand scaling
Polishers
-used after teeth have been thoroughly cleaned
-slow rotary tools
-buff away uneven areas on teeth
-Used once the teeth have been thoroughly cleaned with the hand tools, polishers are slow-speed rotary tools that buff away uneven areas on teeth
-leaving tooth surfaces smooth and even
-teeth look bright and shiny
X-Rays
-used to see issues that are not visible to the naked eye
-see below the surface of teeth
-looking for cavities
-damage and decay