Chapter 19
Chairside Instruments and
Tray systems.
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
Descriptions of the working
end!

Point:
sharp tip
used to:


explore and detect.

Example: explorer
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).
Description of working end
cont.



Nib:
a blunt or flat end.
serrated or smooth.



Example:
Amalgam condenser,
Endodontic plugger.
Classification of Dental
Instruments

Instruments are classified by:
Number of working ends.
 Function.
 Manufactures name.
 Black’s number formula.

• G.V. Black
Number of working ends

Single-ended:




one working end
generally a longer
handle.
single function
multi-function

Double-ended:


ends are same,
opposite
directions
• left and right



different functions
different sizes
paired mesial or
distal
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.
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.
Chisel
Hatchet
Hoe
Angle former
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/cut the gums.
GMT distal
GMTmesial
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.
Spoon excavators
Carving instruments

T-3 carver:
• carves amalgam occlusal and proximal
surfaces

Hollenback carver:
• carves amalgam proximal surfaces.

Cleoid-Discoid carver: aka (C-D)
• carves amalgam occlusal.
• All can be used to carve anatomy (pits and
fissures) into the occlusal surface.
Cleoiddiscoid
Hollenback
T-3
Basic set-up

Standard basic set-up.
Mouth mirror
 Explorer
 Cotton pliers

• AKA cotton forceps or pick-ups.
Aspirating Syringe and
needles.

Syringe



Needles
Delivers
anesthetic!
Used to check
needle position.

• Not in a vein.

Different ga.
• Size of opening
• 25, 27, 30
(common)
Different lengths
• X-long / Long
• Short / X-short
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
appliances.
Parts of the bur!

Shank:



the part of the bur
you place in the
chuck of the
handpiece.
Latch-type shank:



Straight shank:


larger diameter
shanks
associated with
lab burs.

has a notch
contra-angle
attachment
slow-speed
handpiece
Friction-grip shank:


smooth on the
end
high-speed
handpiece
Parts of the bur cont.

Head:




is the working end
of the bur. It
performs the
function.
different shapes
different sizes
different # of
blades or
coarseness

Neck:

is the tapered part
of the bur that
connects the
shank to the head
of the bur.
Carbide Burs

Round: FG or latch, opens the tooth
and removes caries. Sized 1/4 - 10
Carbide Burs

Inverted cone: FG
or latch, removes
caries and place
retention grooves /
undercuts. Sized
331/2 - 37 or 37L
(long)
Straight
fissure
Cross-cut
straight fissure
Tapered
fissure
Cross-cut
tapered fissure
Carbide Burs cont.


End cutting:


Wheel:


form the
shoulders of
crown preps.
used to form
retention in the
prep.
Pear:

used to open and
extend the prep.
Sized 329-331(L)
Diamond burs:




rapid reduction of
tooth structure
(coarse)
polishing and
finishing (fine)
occlusal
adjustments.
Identified by grit:
• (fine, med., coarse)

Variety of shapes
and sizes.
Diamond burs.
Additional Burs

Finishing burs:



smooth, trim, and
finish restorative
material.
increased # of
blades (carbide)
or finer grit
(diamond)
different shapes
and sizes,
• gold colored
shank (carbide)

Surgical burs:

FG or latch grip,
• reduce, remove,
or reshape the
bone
• section (cut) a
tooth into pieces.

Many shapes and
sizes
• shaft of the bur is
longer
Additional burs cont.
Additional rotary instruments

Stones: used for
cutting, polishing
and finishing
restorations and
appliances.



Rubber points or
cups: aka
greenies, and
brownies.

Many different
shapes and sizes.
Common stones

• white and green
stones.

FG or latch.
polish metals and
define anatomy in
restorations.
polishing
amalgam and
gold
Additional rotary instruments
Additional rotary instruments

Lab bur: AKA
acrylic bur or a
vulcanite bur.



Used to adjust
appliances,
extraorally.
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.
Additional rotary instruments
Bur Blocks

Bur blocks




hold, separate,
and organize
burs.
set up by bur,
doctor, or
procedure.
magnetic
different shapes
and sizes,
• autoclaveable.

High Speed Handpieces

Working end:
• aka head
• where the bur is
placed

Shank:
• aka the handle.
• the part of the
handpiece you
hold onto.

Connection end:
• the end that
attaches to the
power source or
line.

Slow-speed handpiece

AKA low-speed, or
straight handpiece.


Rotates about
30,000 rpm.
Used with a contraangle or pro/right
angle attachment.

No water, but can
and does produce
frictional heat.

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.

Instrument tray systems
Closing
Knowing and understanding dental
instruments and their functions are
very important parts of your job.
 This is a foundation for you to build
you instrument knowledge.
 Any questions?
