How do you feel when you see dental instruments? Apprehensive? Curious? We hope it’s not the former. At All Coast Dental, we’re a family practice that provides general and dental care to the Pacific Beach community. We want our patients to feel comfortable talking to us about their oral care and to feel informed about their treatment decisions. To that end, we thought it would be helpful if our patients knew how to talk about the instruments we use the most frequently, and had a firmer idea of what they’re for.
The tool we use the most during a routine cleaning is the probe. This metal wand has a hook on each end and serves a variety of purposes. It is most often used to break up tartar, the hardened plaque that forms on teeth and causes gum recession. But it is also used to test the hardness of enamel and, in a specialized form called a scaler, to remove debris from a patient’s gum pockets. The probe is paired with a handheld mirror, which besides allowing us to see the backs of teeth, allows us to hold back the patient’s cheeks. As we remove debris, we’ll also use a tube called an evacuator to clean out the patient’s mouth with suction.
If a patient is suffering from tooth decay, our instruments will allow us to treat them with minimal discomfort. We use a syringe to inject anesthetic and modern dental drills emit water to prevent overheating. Fillings are sculpted with rounded instruments called burnishers to ensure the patient can close their teeth together completely. When teeth need to be extracted, we’ll remove them by wiggling them with flattened spoons called elevators, until they can be lifted out with reverse-action forceps. Some of these tools come in different shapes for more specialized procedures, which we’ll be happy to explain to any patient who’s curious.
Drs. Julie and Joseph Boulos operate All Coast Dental at 2180 Garnet Ave, Suite 1-K, Pacific Beach, California, 92109. To schedule an appointment, call 858-270-4904 or visit All Coast Dental and fill out a contact sheet.
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