Being at a dental office can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know what you can expect to find in their facility. Be prepared for your eventual visit by learning about the various dental care instruments and equipment needed for different types of procedures.
Dental Equipment and Their Uses
There is a variety of equipment used by dentists to perform their jobs effectively. The next time you visit your dentist in Sarnia, you no longer have to wonder about what tools and equipment you can expect to see.
1.Dental Chair
Modern dental chairs have an ergonomic design with comfortable padding and moveable armrests that makes sure patients feel more relaxed during dental procedures. These designs also make dental procedures easier for dentists, hygienists, and assistants. Among other perks, modern dental chairs have:
- Programmable seat positions
- Accessible control panels to adjust the position of the chair
- Soft-cushioned backrest
- Powerful system designed for lifting up and down the chair
- Foot control
2.Sterilization Equipment
Infection prevention is another critical factor for any dental practice. Dentists must follow the best sterilization practices to ensure the safety of the patients.
The use of dental sterilization equipment and tools prevents cross-contamination and the spread of infection.
Depending on the services and treatment, there are several types of equipment used to sterilize dental tools without leaving any toxic residue:
- Sterilizers or autoclaves
- Washers and dryers
- Dry heat sterilizers
- Chemical vapour sterilization
Dental offices with limited space can use tabletop sterilizers for infection control without taking up too much space. Modern sterilizers also come with USB and network ports for remote monitoring.
3.Operatory Light
Lighting can have a significant impact on the success of the dental procedure or the accuracy of the diagnosis. This is why dental clinics are so well-lit.
When it comes to operatory light, adjustability is crucial. Dentists are able to adjust the operatory light easily while performing a dental procedure.
4.Dental Cabinets
The layout and design of the operatory cabinetry play a significant factor in the workflow efficiency of the dental practice. Dental cabinets enable the dental staff to store important items and access them quickly, streamlining dental workflow, increasing productivity, and ensuring patient safety. They also give the dental space aesthetic appeal and a professional feel.
5.Surgical Instruments
Dentists use high-quality instruments for dental procedures, such as dental implants, extraction, and bone graft. Below are some of the surgical instruments used to ensure more efficient, successful, and safer dental procedures:
- Elevators
- Forceps
- Chisels
- Grafting instruments
- Osteotomes
- Tissue Forceps
- Root tip elevators
These instruments are thoroughly cleaned and sterilized using chemical vapour, autoclave, and dry heat.
6.Dental Handpieces
Dental handpieces are another essential dental instrument. They are widely used for routine dental cleanings to complex dental surgical treatments.
The different types of handpieces include:
- High-speed handpieces
- Low-speed handpieces
- Specialist surgical handpieces
- Laboratory handpieces
- Hygiene handpieces
Like surgical instruments, handpieces are sterilized to prevent cross-contamination.
Since dental handpieces are among the basic dental instruments, patients probably have seen them during dental procedures.
7.X-Ray Machine
X-rays are another important piece of dental equipment found in clinics. It is used to obtain accurate diagnoses. X-rays of the patient’s jaw and mouth area are required every 3 to 5 years unless the patient experiences a dental problem that necessitates a new set of X-rays.
Here are the most common dental issues that can be detected with X-rays:
- Dental abscesses or cysts
- Tumours (cancerous and non-cancerous)
- Bone loss
- Decay between the teeth
- Poor tooth and root positions
- Developmental abnormalities
- Issues within the tooth or below the gumline
8.Dental Intraoral Cameras
A dental intraoral camera is a portable pen-like video camera that can be connected to the screen wirelessly. Equipped with LED, it provides the dentist with a magnified image on the screen. Not only do they save time, but intraoral cameras are also great when it comes to patient education. The images and videos they provide help patients understand their dental health condition better.
Intraoral cameras are used to:
- Detect early signs of dental problems.
- Ensure accuracy and better treatment.
- Enable the dentist to easily explain to the patients the underlying issues and treatment procedures.
- Allow the dentist to share images and save them for future reference.
9.Drill
Dentists use a drill to remove dental caries. It has high-tech diamond burrs that can quickly drill cavities almost virtually painlessly with the help of pain medications.
The dentist can use different burrs or tips on the drill to perform other tasks, such as repairing minor chips, getting rid of tartar, and smoothing out composite fillings.
10.Dental Delivery System
This dental equipment is the centre for electric or air-powered dental instruments, such as air or water syringes, handpieces, and vacuums.
Modern dental delivery systems are designed with automatic activation for 3 handpieces, an airflow regulator, a self-sufficient waterline with asepsis tubes and a purgative system, and a switch panel that has a wet or dry foot control.
Others feature various types of accessories, such as intraoral cameras, fibre-optic systems, lighting, X-ray viewers, and touchpads.
These pieces of dental equipment make sure that the patient is well cared for.
If you are looking for a trusted family dental clinic in Sarnia, reach out to Lambton Family Dental today. Call us at (519) 344-5747 to book an appointment with our family dentist, or fill out our contact form to send us a message. You can also visit our dental clinic at 387 Exmouth St. Sarnia, ON N7T 5N8.