1. Chairside Instruments and Tray systems.
Chapter 19
Chairside Instruments and
Tray systems.

2. Structural Parts of Dental Hand Instruments
Working End
The end of the instrument that actually performs the function.
Comes in three generalized categories.
Point
Blade
nib

3. Descriptions of the working end!
Point:
sharp tip
used to:
explore and detect.
Example: explorer

4. Description of working end cont.
Blade:
flat or curved,
rounded edge or a cutting edge.
beveled or bi-beveled,
Example:
Gregg 4/5 (round edge),
Hollenback carver, (beveled edge).

5. Description of working end cont.
Nib:
a blunt or flat end.
serrated or smooth.
Example:
Amalgam condenser,
Endodontic plugger.

6. Classification of Dental Instruments
Instruments are classified by:
Number of working ends.
Function.
Manufactures name.
Black’s number formula.

7. Number of working ends Single-ended: Double-ended: one working end
generally a longer handle.
single function
multi-function
Double-ended:
ends are same,
opposite directions
different functions
different sizes
paired left and right
mesial or distal

8. Instruments classified by function
CUTTING:
used to design (shape or form)
the cavity prep,
define and refine walls / floor of the prep.
Cuts enamel and dentin.

9. The six cutting hand instruments
1. Chisels: shapes the walls,
pushing motion.
2. Hatchets: refine walls / retention,
paired left and right.
3. Hoes: smooth and shape the floor
pulling motion.
4. Angle formers: defines point angles.
corners of the prep. downward pushing motion.

10. Chisel Hatchet Hoe Angle former

11. Cutting instruments cont.
5. Gingival margin trimmer (GMT)
double ended instrument
comes paired mesial and distal.
Are used to bevel (slant or angle) the gingival margin of the cavity prep.
cuts enamel. It does not trim the gums.

12. GMT distal GMT mesial

13. Cutting instruments cont.
6. Excavator, AKA Spoon excavator
scoop and remove caries and debris from the prep/tooth.
Double ended
Used when there is a risk of perforating into the pulp chamber with the handpiece and bur.

14. Non-cutting hand instruments.
Includes the basic set-up.
Mouth mirror
Explorer
Cotton pliers
AKA cotton forceps or pick-ups.
This is a guideline for a basic set-up. Your dentist will determine which instruments they would like in their basic set-up.

15. Examples of Non-cutting instruments cont.
Periodontal probe
Amalgam carrier
Gregg 4/5 aka “plastic instrument”
Amalgam condenser
Spatula
Articulating paper forceps
Scissors: (they don’t cut tooth structure)
Burnisher

16. Carving instruments.
Carvers are used to carve amalgam not tooth structure!
The three main carver are listed next. There are others. The ones you have in your office will depend on the doctor.

17. Carving instruments cont.
T-3 carver:
carves amalgam occlusal and interproximal
Hollenback carver:
carves amalgam interproximal.
Cleoid-Discoid carver: aka (C-D)
carves amalgam occlusal.
All can be used to carve anatomy (pits and fissures) into the occlusal surface.

18. Cleoid- discoid Hollenback T-3

19. Dental Rotary Instruments
Burs, aka rotary instruments!
discs,
stones,
rubber polishers,
mandrels,
lab burs.
Used for
cavity preparation,
finishing and polishing restorations,
surgical procedures
adjusting appliance.

20. Parts of the bur! Shank: Straight shank: Latch-type shank:
the part of the bur you place in the chuck of the handpiece.
Straight shank:
are longer, larger shanks
associated with lab burs.
Latch-type shank:
has a notch
contra-angle attachment
slow-speed handpiece
Friction-grip shank:
smooth on the end
high-speed handpiece

21. Parts of the bur cont. Head: Neck:
is the working end of the bur. It performs the function.
different shapes
different sizes
different # of blades
Neck:
is the tapered part of the bur that connects the shank to the head of the bur.

22. Cutting Burs
Round: FG or latch, opens the tooth and removes caries. Sized 1/4 - 10

23. Inverted cone: FG or latch, removes caries and place retention grooves / undercuts. Sized 331/ or 37L (long)

24. Cutting burs cont. Straight fissure: Sized 56 - 58L
Cross-cut straight fissure:
Sized L
Tapered fissure:
Sized L
Cross-cut tapered fissure:
Sized

25. Straight Cross-cut Tapered Cross-cut fissure straight fissure fissure tapered fissure

26. Cutting Burs cont. End cutting: Wheel: Pear: Diamond burs:
form the shoulders of crown preps.
Wheel:
used to form retention in the prep.
Pear:
used to open and extend the prep. Sized L.
Diamond burs:
rapid reduction of tooth structure.
polishing and finishing
occlusal adjustments.
Identified by grit:
(fine, med., coarse)
Many different shapes and sizes.

27. Diamond burs.

28. Additional Burs Finishing burs: Surgical burs:
smooth, trim, and finish restorative material.
increased # of blades
different shapes and sizes,
gold colored shank
Surgical burs:
FG or latch grip,
reduce, remove, or reshape the bone and to section (cut) a tooth into pieces.
Come in many shapes and sizes, (same as the cutting burs), shaft of the bur is longer

29. Additional burs cont.

30. Additional burs cont.
Stones: used for cutting, polishing and finishing restorations and appliances.
Many different shapes and sizes.
Common stones used, white and green stones. (darker the color the more abrasive the material.)
Rubber points or cups: aka greenies, and brownies.
FG or latch.
polish metals and define anatomy in restorations.
polishing amalgam and gold

31. Additional burs cont.

32. Additional burs cont. Lab bur: AKA acrylic bur or a vulcanite bur.
Used to adjust appliances, extraorally.
slow speed motor and nosecone,
used in a lathe in the dental lab.
Many different shapes and sizes.
Mandrel: designed to hold polishing disks.
used to smooth, polish and adjust composite.
different grits,
discs are made of:
metal,
plastic,
paper.

33. Additional burs cont.

34. Bur Blocks Bur blocks hold, separate, and organize burs.
set up by bur, doctor, or procedure.
magnetic
different shapes and sizes,
autoclaveable.

35. Handpieces Parts of the handpiece Working end: where the bur is placed
Shank: the part of the handpiece you hold onto. AKA the handle.
Connection end: the end that attaches to the power source or line.

36. High speed handpiece Spins at 400,000 rpm
rapid cutting of tooth structure
finishing restorations.
Produces frictional heat
pulpal damage.
Spray water.
No attachments
just burs.
Speed is controlled by the rheostat.
Fiber optic light source
Do not place in ultrasonic!

37. Slow-speed handpiece AKA low-speed, or straight handpiece.
Rotates about 30,000 rpm.
Used with a contra-angle or pro/right angle attachment.
No water, but can and does produce frictional heat.

38. Instrument tray systems
Pre-set trays: very common, saves time.
Instruments should be set according to the order they will be used. This may vary from doctor to doctor.
Color-coding: may be used to identify:
Which procedure they are for.
Which operatory they belong in.
Which doctor they belong to.

39. Instrument tray systems

40. Closing
Knowing and understanding dental instruments is a very important part of your job.
This is a foundation for you to build you instrument knowledge.
Any question?