Instrument knowledge at the dental clinic

When you assist you must be able to recognize the instruments know what they are called and hand the right one at the right time. Good knowledge of instrument science makes you a safe partner for the dentist and a help in a busy treatment.

The basic examination instruments are used to see and feel during an examination: a mouth mirror to see in and hold the cheek away a probe to feel the teeth and tweezers to grasp and hold small things. They are often displayed as a fixed standard setup.

• 01Mouth mirror – provides visibility and keeps soft tissues away.
• 02Probe – used to feel on tooth surfaces.
• 03Tweezers – grips and holds cotton, materials and small items.

For the actual treatment there is a wide range of hand instruments each with its own function — for example for removing tartar, shaping material or working in a cavity. You don't need to know them all by heart from day one, but you gradually learn which ones belong to which treatments so you can set up correctly.

Rotating instruments are found in the dentist's handpieces and angles and are used, among other things, to drill and polish. They vary in shape and use. They must be handled and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions – including lubrication – and they are treated and sterilized like any other used instrument.

Instruments last longer and work better when handled correctly: they are picked up carefully, checked for damage, lubricated where relevant and stored properly. A damaged or dull instrument is neither safe nor effective.

Instrument knowledge goes hand-in-hand with hygiene: you set up clean, sterile instruments, and after use they go back through cleaning, disinfection, inspection, packaging and sterilization. Knowing the instrument also helps you see whether it's intact and clean.