What Tools do Dentists Use?

As prosthodontists, we at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists have a wide variety of tools in our office. They allow us to handle just about every problem a patient might come in with, but to our patients, they may seem mysterious. We want our patients to feel comfortable with their dental care, so we thought it would be a good idea to briefly describe what the most commonly used dental instruments are and what names we might use for them.

Dental explorers are metal wands with hooks at the end. You’ve doubtlessly seen hygienists use them to break up tartar. Explorers in different shapes might be called probes or scalers when they’re being used to test the depth of gum pockets and remove plaque from beneath the gum line. They’re also used to test the hardness of each tooth’s enamel, which helps us to determine if there’s an active infection. We use explorers in combination with handheld mirrors to see the backsides of patients’ teeth and move their cheeks out of the way. As we break up tartar, we’ll suction it out with a tube called an evacuator or an ejector.

Larger evacuators are used when we need to drill away decayed enamel. The drill emits water so it won’t overheat the patient’s mouth, and the patient is numbed with medication delivered through a syringe. Fillings are applied with pluggers and polished with burnishers. When a tooth needs to be extracted, we’ll use a flat spoon called an elevator to loosen it by rocking it back and forth. We may also use reverse-action forceps to lift a tooth out once it’s loose enough to avoid harming the surrounding soft tissues..

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Bonding and Fillings

Chipping or breaking a tooth can be very painful. It can also leave the tooth misshapen or with a sharpened edge that could hurt the inside of your mouth. Dental bonding and fillings assist in rebuilding the affected tooth with special materials. We at Oyster Bay Family Dentists in New York are proud to offer both of these procedures to our patients. We are committed to helping fix your smile when unexpected chips and breaks occur!

 

Dental bonding restores the natural shape of your tooth by using composite resin matched to your specific tooth color. In cases of accidental damage or minor decay, it is an inexpensive way to restore the look of the tooth to its normal healthy self. Dental bonding can also be used for protecting the roots of your teeth. Receding gums that expose the tooth root allow bacteria in easily, making them more susceptible to infection.

 

Dental fillings focus more on restorative efforts rather than cosmetic ones since they are stronger and more durable than dental bonding. This method also has a low cost but is the better option over dental bonding in the long run. Whereas dental bonding fixes the outside of the tooth, dental fillings fix the inside of a tooth that has been damaged from decay or breakage. For back teeth, it’s better to use metal fillings so that it can better withstand the force of chewing. 

 

Have you recently chipped or broken a tooth? We can check out the issue and determine if bonding or fillings are a good option for you! Oyster Bay Family Dentists is located at 123 South Street in Oyster Bay, NY 11771. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit oysterbaydentists.com or call 516-922-5730.

 

Dental Instruments

We hope all our patients feel comfortable at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. We use a lot of interesting instruments to provide the best healthcare possible, but we recognize that they may be a source of anxiety for some people. Because regular dental cleanings are so important, we thought it would be helpful if patients felt they had the vocabulary to talk about our instruments.

For regular cleanings, our hygienists use handheld mirrors and explorers. The explorer is the hooked metal instrument we use to break up hardened bits of tartar. We also use it to test the sturdiness of enamel and determine whether there is an active infection. Explorers come in many shapes, and some are also called “probes” in reference to how they are used to test whether there is decay in the gum pockets. If there is, a flattened hook called a scaler can be used to clean decay out.

When tooth decay is identified, we have other specialized tools for repairing it. Localized anesthetic is delivered through a syringe and the drill site will be kept under running water to prevent heat damage. The material for the filling will be applied and contoured using a blunt-tipped instrument called a burnisher. Suction hoses called evacuators are used to remove broken up tartar and decayed enamel.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

When to Replace Fillings

Nobody should put up with a toothache. Sensitive teeth require the attention of a dentist, and if the problem is related to a filling, it will not get better on its own. At the Oyster Bay Family Dentists, we want our patients to be aware of when a filling needs to be replaced.

Before placement of a filling, the decayed portion of the tooth is drilled away. This may cause discomfort for the patient for a few days, but the pain should not be severe or last for long. The patient also should not have any difficulty closing their teeth together. If they do, the filling is “high” and needs to be contoured. If the filling seems to be leaking, the material must have changed shape while setting and needs to be removed to prevent infection.

The bonding used to cement teeth is not permanent. The upper lifespan of a filling is about ten years. After that, the bonding may crack, creating a place for bacteria to hide in. During regular dental appointments, a dentist will check to ensure the stability of the patient’s fillings and remove ones that are at risk of failure.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.