Chapter 34
Dental Hand Instruments
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA)
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Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Introduction
A wide variety of dental instruments are used in
dentistry today.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Identifying Hand Instruments
 Referred to by:

• Name
• Assigned number
Black’s instrument formula
• Describes the angulation.
• Describes the dimensions.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Hand Instrument Design
 Handle


• Portion of the instrument where the operator
grasps.
Shank
• Part of the instrument that attaches the
working end to the handle.
Working end
• Portion of the instrument with a specific
function.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Classification of Instruments
 Four categories
•
•
•
•
Examination
Hand-cutting
Restorative
Accessory
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Examination Instruments
 Allow the operator to thoroughly examine the

health status of the oral cavity.
Mouth mirror
• Indirect vision
• Light reflection
• Retraction
• Tissue protection
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Examination Instruments- cont’d
 Explorer

• Distinguish areas of calculus.
• Distinguish decay.
• Distinguish areas of discrepancies on teeth.
Cotton Pliers
• Carry, retrieve and place small objects.
• Locking
• Non-locking
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Examination Instruments- cont’d
 Periodontal probe

• Measure the sulcus or pocket depth of the
periodontium.
Articulating paper and holder
• Carbon paper held in place by a holder used
to check a patient’s “bite.”
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Handcutting Instruments
 Allow the operator to manually remove decay,

as well as smooth, finish, and prepare tooth
structure to be restored back to its normal
function.
Excavator is used for the removal of soft
dentin, debris, and decay from the tooth.
• Spoon excavator
• Black spoon
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Handcutting Instruments- cont’d
 Hoe
• Used to plane the walls and floors of the tooth
preparation.
 Chisel
• Used to cut the enamel margin of the tooth
preparation, form sharp lines, point angles, and
place retention grooves.
• Straight chisel
• Bin-angle chisel
• Wedelstaedt chisel
• Angle former
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Handcutting Instruments- cont’d
 Hatchet

• Used for cutting enamel, and to smooth the
walls and floors of the tooth preparation.
Gingival margin trimmer
• Used to cut enamel and place bevels along
the gingival enamel margins of the
preparation.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Restorative Instruments
 Allow the operator to place, condense, and

carve a dental material to the original anatomy
of the tooth structure.
Amalgam carrier
• A double-ended instrument designed with
wells on either end to pack the freshly mixed
amalgam in and carry it to the prepared
tooth.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Restorative Instruments- cont’d
 Condenser
• Used to condense the freshly placed amalgam
into the preparation.
• Smooth
• Serrated
 Burnisher
• Used to smooth the surface of the freshly
placed amalgam restoration.
• Egg-shaped
• Football
• T-shaped
• Beaver tail
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Restorative Instruments- cont’d
 Carvers
• Used to remove excess material, contour surfaces,
and carve anatomy back into the amalgam or
intermediate restoration before it hardens.
• Discoid/Cleoid
• Hollenback
 Amalgam knife
• Used for the removal of excess restorative
material along the margin where the material and
tooth structure meet; most commonly
interproximal.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Restorative Instruments- cont’d
 Composite placement instrument

• Designed specifically for the placement of
composite restorative materials.
• Anodized aluminum
• Teflon
Plastic instrument
• Instrument with a paddle shape that is used
for carrying dental materials to the prepared
tooth structure; on the other end is a nib,
which resembles a condenser.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Accessory Instruments
 Miscellaneous instruments that may be needed

for many uses to complete a procedure.
Spatulas
• Used for most every procedure when a
dental material is involved.
• Cement spatulas
• Impression material spatulas
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Accessory Instruments- cont’d
 Scissors

• Used for cutting dental dam material,
retraction cord, and stainless steel crowns.
• Crown and bridge scissors
Dappen Dish
• Hold certain liquid dental materials during
a procedure.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Accessory Instruments- cont’d
 Amalgam well

• Where the newly mixed amalgam is placed
and retrieved from.
Howe Pliers
• Also referred to as 110 pliers. Useful for
holding items, for carrying cotton products to
and from the oral cavity, removing the matrix
band, and placing and removing the wedge.
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Preset Cassettes
 Hand instruments and related accessories for






a given procedure are prepared, stored, and
transported together.
Exam
Amalgam
Composite
Crown and Bridge
Endodontic
Surgical
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Instrument Sequence on a Tray
 Criteria
 Instruments set-up from left to right
•
•
•
•
•
Basic set-up
Additional examination instruments
Handcutting instruments
Restorative instruments
Accessory items
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Color Coding of Instruments
 Organization
• Instruments with bands of same color.
• Tray of the same color.
• Tub with dental materials of the same color.
Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.