HAND INSTRUMENTS IN
OPERATIVE
DENTISTRY
P R E S E N T E D BY
[Link].M
D E P T O F C O N S E R VAT I V E D E N T I S T RY & E N D O D O N T I C S
PGDCH AMRITSAR
EXPLORING INSTRUMENTS
[Link] mirrors
[Link]
[Link] probes
[Link] Tweezers
MOUTH MIRRORS
Mouth mirrors are used to provide clear and distinct vision of the operating areas
Functions
Direct visualization
Indirect visualization
Reflect the operating light
Retraction of soft tissues like tongue,lips etc
DIRECT VISION INDIRECT VISION SOFT TISSUE RETRACTION
They are usually round in shape and available in different sizes
No 2- 5/8 inch (15mm)
No 4- 7/8 inch(22 mm)
No 5- 15/16 inch(24mm)
Usually we use no 4&5
Types of mouth mirrors
Front-surface reflecting
Reflecting surface is on the surface of the glass
Provide a clear image
Get scratched easily
Rear surface reflecting
Reflecting surface beneath the glass
Do not provide a clear image
Resistant to scratching
EXPLORERS
These are delicate, pointed instruments
Used for tactile examination of tooth surfaces and restorations
Used to identify irregularities
Types
Straight
Curved
Interproximal
Straight Explorer
This is bent at right angles to the handle
Curved explorer
Working end is curved like a half moon
Exploring tip is at right angles to the handle
Also called “shepherd’s crook” explorer
Interproximal explorer
It has two or more angles in the shank
Exploring tip pointed towards the handle
Also called as Briault explorer or Back action probe
Periodontal Probes
Similar to explorer but the working tip is blunt
Marked with graduations
Primary function-to measure periodontal pockets
In operative dentistry- to measure the dimensions of cavity preperations
Cotton Tweezers
Used to place and remove cotton rolls used for isolation of teeth
They can also carry small cotton pellets to dry the teeth
PMT SET
INSTRUMENTS USED FOR REMOVAL
OF TEETH
Hand cutting instruments
Rotary cutting instruments
Hand cutting instruments
Instrument bevels
In most hand cutting instruments there is a single bevel on the edge of the blade
It form the primary cutting edge
If it has only one bevel its called as single bevelled instrument and if there is two bevel it called
as bi bevelled instrument,
triple bevelled and circumferentially bevelled also present
Right and left bevelled
Single bevelled instruments are usually made in pairs (right&left)
to identify where the bevel is, the instrument is held in such a way that
primary cutting edge is facing down and pointing away from the operator
If the bevel appear on right side of the blade it is the right instrument of the
pair
During use right bevelled instrument is moved from right to left
Instrument formula (eg:-15-10-
20)
Developed by G V Black
Numerical formula to describe the dimensions and angles of the working end of the hand
instrument
3 unit formula and 4 unit formula are there
1st unit-Blade width:-It denotes the width of the blade in 1/10th of millimeters
2nd unit- Blade length:-length of blade in millimeters
3rd unit-Blade angle:-angle of the blade relative to long axis of the handle of instrument in
centigrade(1 centigrade=3.6 degree)
4th unit-primary cutting edge angle:-angle between cutting edge and long axis of
instrument,expressed in centigrades
Eg of 4 number formula :- gingival marginal trimmer,angle former
Instrument formula usually placed on the instrument handle
For instrument with 4 unit, the 4 unit(primary cutting edge angle)is placed as second in the code
3 number formula 4 number formula
15-8-12 10-85-6-12
•Blade width=15/10=1.5 mm blade width=10/10=1 mm
•Blade length=8mm primary cutting edge angle=85 centigrade
•Blade angle=12 centigrade blade length=6mm
blade angle=12 centigrade
•20-16-24
•1st unit=blade width=20/10=2mm
•2nd unit=blade length=16mm
•3rd unit=blade angle=24 centigrade
•30-70-12-28
•1st unit=blade width=30/10=3mm
• 2nd unit=primary cutting edge angle=70 centigrade
•3rd unit=blade length=12 mm
•4th unit=blade angle=28 centigrade
Hand cutting instruments
Excavators
These are designed to excavate and remove carious dentin and to shape internal parts of cavities
Hatchet excavator/ordinary hatchet
•also known as bibevelled hatchet
•Blade is same plane as the long axis of the handle
Hoe excavator
Spoon excavator
Cutting edge in the form of semicircle
Inner concavity and outer convexity make ing it similar to spoon
chisels
Cutting edge is right angle to blade
Bevel on one side only
Special chisels
[Link] hatchet
It has a straight blade,which make it a single plane instrument
Blade is large and it is single bevelled
Cutting edge is in a plane parallel to long axis of the handle
Shank may have one or two angles
Its available as right and left type
Used to cut undermined enamel in proximal cavities and on
Buccal and lingual walls
[Link] marginal trimmer
It is modified enamel hatchet
2 modifications
Blade is curved,which makes it double plane instrument and thus enhances lateral scraping
action
Cutting edge is not at 90 degree to the axis of the blade
There are 2 pairs of GMT,constituting a set of four instruments, right and left bevelled
Mesial GMT
The cutting edge of these instrument make acute angle with edge of the blade which nearer to
the handle
The 2nd unit formula(cutting edge angle) 75-85 for these instruments
Distal GMT
The cutting edge of the instrument makes acute angle with edge of the blade furthest from the
handle
The two unit instrument formula is 95-100 for these instruments
Mesial GMT Distal GMT
USES
To produce proper bevel on the gingival enamel margins of class 2 cavity preperations
To round of axiopulpal line angle in class 2 cavity preperations
Why we giving gingival bevel?
The direction of enamel rods in cervical region is towards the root in permanent dentition
[Link] former
This instrument is combination of chisel and GMT
It modified from chisel by sharpening the primary cutting edge at an angle to the
axis of blade
Cutting edge angle is 80-85 C,so it is a four numbered instrument
It used to make line and point angles to create retention
Wedelstaedt chisel
It resembles straight chisel,but has a slight vertical curvature in its shank
Used to cleave undermined enamel
Instrument sharpening
Hand cutting instruments lose their sharp cutting edges because of repeated contact with
tooth tissues and by frequent sterilization
Use of instruments with dull cutting edges is harmful as they cause more pain, prolong the
operating time, reduce quality and precision in cavity preparation
So all cutting instruments always maintained as sharp
Sharpening devices
Stationary sharpening stones
Sharpening stones in handpieces
Mechanical sharpners
Stationary sharpening stone Rotary sharpening stone Honing machine
Restoring instruments
Cement spatula
Stainless steel spatula- to mix zinc phosphate and zinc poly carboxylate
Plastic spatula-for glass ionomer cement
Plastic filling instrument
These are used to carry mixed cement to the prepared cavity
Amalgam carrier
condenser Ball burnisher carvers
Finishing and polishing
instruments
Polishing cups Polishing brushes Polishing burs