Dental Instrumentation, Care and Maintenance

At the end of the course, the students should be able to: 1. identify instruments used in treat patients; 2. describe the uses of the instruments; and 3. demonstrate maintenance of the instruments.

Identification of the appropriate instruments for examination of the oral cavity such as dental (mouth) mirror, periodontal probe, other probes, tweezers. Set the instruments identified. Reflect, retract and protect parts of the mouth using dental mirror. Determine the depth of gum loss using the periodontal probe. Determine presence of tooth decay using other probes. Transfer materials to and from the oral cavity using tweezers. Identify the appropriate instruments for gross scaling such as jacquets 1,2 and 3, hoes, chisel, gross excavators and many others. Set the instruments identified ready for use. Apply the jacquets 1, 2, and 3 appropriately. Apply the hoes appropriately. Apply the chisels appropriately. Apply the gross excavators appropriately. Apply other instruments for gross scaling. Identify appropriate instruments for fine scaling such as drury scalars, fine excavators, chisel (fine), curettes, sickles and many others. Set the instruments identified ready for use. Apply the drury scalars appropriately. Apply the fine excavators appropriately. Apply the line chisels appropriately. Apply the curettes appropriately. Apply the sickles appropriately. Apply other instruments for fine scaling. Identify the appropriate equipment for tooth polishing such as dental units, dental chair, spot light. Identify the appropriate instruments for tooth polishing such as contra-angled arm piece, bristle brushes – wheel and cup types, rubber cups-small and large polisher, attach the instruments to the appropriate instrument. Polish tooth using the appropriate instrument.