Dentistry

is

the

branch

of medicine that
is
involved
in
the
study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment
of diseases, disorders and conditions of
the oral
cavity,
commonly
in
the dentition but also the oral mucosa, and
of adjacent and related structures and
tissues, particularly in the maxillofacial (jaw
and facial) area.

A Dentists Tool-Belt
Most tools of the trade will be visible to you from the dental
chair. Since we often fear the unknown, why not learn to
identify these tools often used by your dentist?
Mirror, Mirror, on therodthis small, round mirror angled
on the end of a metal stick allows the dentist to view the
hidden side of teeth.
A little probe here, a little probe therea sickle probe,
also known as a dental explorer, is a metal stick with a thin,

curved hook. Youll notice the dentist touches the surface of

your teeth with this tool to determine the amount of enamel,
plaque, and tartar on a tooth and to test the tooths
hardness. Periodontal probes look very similar to the sickle
probe except the end is blunted. Its design enables a
measuring of the amount of space between your gum tissue
and toothsigns of gum disease.
The melodious drillsperhaps its the high pitch, but for
some reason most people unnecessarily dread the dental
drill. Different drills are used for different things, such as
filling cavities, repairing chips, smoothing teeth, or removing
tooth decay. No wonder it feels like its always running!
Cotton pliersthey look like small tongs with tapered points
that bend at an angle. Theyre used to handle cotton or other

small items placed in or removed from the mouth. Isnt that

better than your dentists fingers?
Excavation by spoonreally its another metal stick-type
tool but designed with a tiny spoon shaped end. Variations of
this tool allow the dentist to remove different levels of
softened decay or temporary fillings.
Spill in aisle 3your head is tilted back and there are
dental instruments working in your mouthdont panic! The
disposable saliva ejector provides a low amount of suction to
remove saliva, blood, water, or debris during procedures.

I saw a blue light The material used in tooth repairs will

not harden until exposed to the dental curing light. You may
remember it as a blue light with an orange shield.
A

TOOTH ANATOMY

Crown the top part of the tooth, and the only part
you can normally see. The shape of the crown
determines the tooth's function. For example, front
teeth are sharp and chisel-shaped for cutting,
while molars have flat surfaces for grinding.

Gumline where the tooth and the gums meet.

Without
proper brushing and flossing,plaque and tartar can
build up at the gumline, leading to gingivitis and gum
disease.

Root the part of the tooth that is embedded in

bone. The root makes up about two-thirds of the tooth
and holds the tooth in place.

Enamel the outermost layer of the tooth. Enamel

is the hardest, most mineralized tissue in the body
yet it can be damaged by decay if teeth are not cared
for properly.

Dentin the layer of the tooth under the enamel. If

decay is able to progress its way through the enamel,
it next attacks the dentin where millions of tiny tubes
lead directly to the dental pulp.

Pulp the soft tissue found in the center of all teeth,

where the nerve tissue and blood vessels are. If tooth
decay reaches the pulp, you usually feel pain.