Going to the dentist can be scary for lots of people, especially with unknown tools, fancy machines, and scary procedures. The more you know about the tools of a dental office, the can become less scary. Being informed about what is happening in your mouth and during your dental cleaning can help alleviate some anxiety.
You are probably familiar with x-ray machines, gloves, fluoride, and toothbrushes, but what about all the shiny silver tools and gadgets? Here are some common tools you will find in our Hendersonville Family Dental office and what they do.
Mouth Mirror
One of the most common dental tools is the mirror that the dentist will use to see all of your teeth. This handheld mirror makes it easier to see the far corners of your mouth and ensures the dentist can see all areas of your teeth. Mirrors help to show what your teeth look like and assess problem areas.
The mouth mirror can also be used to hold your tongue or tissues out of the way so that the dentist can see more clearly.
Sikle Probe
Sikle probe may sound intimidating, but it is actually just a small device used to detect cavities or other oral issues in your mouth. This tool is used to poke or scrape teeth and test them for hardness. Cavities make your tooth enamel soft, so a dentist uses the sickle probe to look for soft areas.
This tool also is used to scrape plaque and tarter from your teeth and reveal the enamel underneath.
Scaler
Another tool that is used to remove plaque and buildup is a scaler. This tool is used to treat plague issues and periodontal diseases that can not be scraped with just a probe. Scalers get a deeper clean and remove bacteria from hard-to-reach places.
Ultrasonic Tooth Cleaner
Similar to a scaler, this dental tool uses vibrations and a stream of water to help break up the build-up on your teeth. With manual scalers and other tools, it can be hard to get into all the areas and crevices of your teeth. Using this tool you will get a more thorough clean and experience less discomfort that comes with scraping.
Saliva Ejector Or Suction Device
A much-needed tool in dental offices is suction devices. These suction devices help to keep saliva, water, blood, or other substance from dripping down your face and help to remove tooth fragments or old fillings out of your mouth during work. The saliva ejector is an especially helpful tool because its J shape allows it to hand on the corners of your mouth and doesn’t always need to be held.
Dental Drill
When patients hear the word drill, it can be scary and cause dental anxiety. Drills are used to drill out cavities and other parts of your teeth. Most dental drills are accompanied by a stream of water so that the drill does not overheat and cause damage to your teeth. While a drill is used to remove some of the teeth, we don’t want to remove more than necessary or cause nerve damage.
Dental Syringe
When you are having dental work done, often an anesthetic or numbing agent will be used to help prevent pain. A dental syringe holds the numbing agent and is attached to the needle that injects the agent into your mouth. There is some initial discomfort that comes from the injection but the numbing kicks in soon after.
The syringe helps the dentist to get the numbing in just the right place so that you don’t feel any unnecessary discomfort.
Molds
Creating dentures, crowns, and mouth guards requires a mold. Dentists use molds to get the exact shape and divots of your teeth. The dentist will have you bite down on a material that will fit perfectly in your mouth.
Some offices will have flavored mold material for kids or those who can not tolerate the bland taste for long enough.
Henderson Family Dental
Our office wants to provide affordable and understandable dental care to all our patients. Alleviating dental anxiety can help you improve your oral health. Hendersonville has a team that cares about your well-being. Scheduling an appointment with our dental office in North Carolina is easy. We are open Monday through Friday to best serve you.
Contact us today and work with our skilled dentists.