Have you ever visited a Dentist in Oak Park and wondered, “What are those things in the Dentist office?” It can be intimidating to encounter equipment that is unfamiliar while trying to fix your teeth. Fear not! Here we will cover all of the essential tools and machines used by Dentists so you can feel a little more at ease and informed the next time you visit us.
The Dentist office can be a strange and overwhelming place with lots of unfamiliar tools and machines. But don’t worry, Dentists use these items to keep your teeth healthy! Understanding what all of the gadgets in the Dentist office do will help put you more at ease during your next visit.
Tools Dentists Use To Keep Your Teeth Healthy
Dentists use a wide variety of tools to help keep your teeth healthy, from cleaning and scaling instruments to dental mirrors and probes. Let’s take a look at some of the most essential tools Dentists use:
- Cavitrons: A cavitron is a special tool Dentists use to clean and remove tartar from your teeth. This machine uses ultrasonic sound waves to vibrate and remove plaque buildup on the surface of your teeth.
- Dental Mirrors: Dentists use dental mirrors to examine hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. Dentists will point the mirror into different parts of your mouth to get a better idea of what’s going on.
- Probes: Dentists use probes to measure the depth and shape of cavities in your teeth. Probes also help Dentists assess any potential damage or decay in your teeth.
- Scalers: Dentists use scalers to remove tartar and plaque from the surface of your teeth. This helps Dentists keep your mouth free of bacteria and prevents tooth decay.
Cleaning Tools Dentists Use To Keep Your Teeth Healthy
- Air Polishers: Dentists use air polishers to polish and clean your teeth. The air polisher sprays a combination of air, water, and baking powder onto the surface of your teeth which helps remove any plaque or residual food particles.
- Ultrasonic Cleaners: Dentists use ultrasonic cleaners in order to really get into hard-to-reach areas of your mouth, like between teeth and under the gumline. The ultrasonic cleaner vibrates and releases a stream of water that helps Dentists remove plaque buildup.
- Prophy Angles: Dentists use prophy angles to polish your teeth. Prophy angles are similar to air polishers, but are more precise. Dentists will use the prophy angle to get into smaller hard-to-reach areas of your mouth and polish them.
Imaging Equipment Dentists Use To Keep Your Teeth Healthy
- X-Rays: Dentists use X-rays to take pictures of the inside of your mouth and teeth. Dentists will use these pictures to assess any potential problems or decay in your mouth.
- Intraoral Cameras: Dentists use intraoral cameras to get a closer look at the inside of your mouth and teeth. The intraoral camera is similar to an X-ray, but it takes a much more detailed picture of your mouth.
Equipment Dentists Use To Treat Your Teeth
- Lasers: Dentists use lasers in order to remove any decay that may have built up inside of your teeth. Dentists will point the laser at the cavity and it helps break down and remove the decay.
- Dentures: Dentists use dentures to replace any teeth that may have fallen out or become too damaged to stay in your mouth. Dentures are made from a combination of acrylic and metal and are custom-fit for each patient.
- Dental Implants: Dentists use dental implants if you’re missing a single tooth or multiple teeth. Dentists will place a titanium post in your jawbone and attach a replacement tooth to the post.
As you can see, Dentists use a wide variety of tools and equipment to help keep your teeth healthy. Understanding what all of these items are used for will help put you more at ease when you’re visiting the Dentist in Oak Park.
FAQs
Q: What is a Cavitron?
A: A cavitron is a special tool Dentists use to remove tartar and plaque from your teeth using ultrasonic sound waves.
Q: What is an intraoral camera?
A: An intraoral camera is a special tool Dentists use to take pictures of the inside of your mouth and teeth.
Q: What are Dentures?
A: Dentures are custom-fit replacements for missing teeth that are made from a combination of acrylic and metal.