Instruments

Question 1

Useful for checking calculus and caries interproximally and for checking interproximal margins of restorations for recurrent caries, over-hangs or open margins

Answer 1

“Cowhorn” Explorer

Question 2

Used for the removal of soft, leathery and dry, powdery caries from a tooth preparation

Answer 2

Small Spoon Excavator

Question 3

Used in cleaving movement to remove undermined enamel, especially from the buccal, and lingual walls of the box of a class II prep.
Its blade measures 1mm, side to side, so it can be useful in measuring isthmus widths on occlusal preps.

Answer 3

Small Enamel Hatchet

Question 4

Used in a scraping motion to remove undermined enamel from the gingival margin of a DISTAL class II box prep.

Can be used to remove under-mined enamel and to flare the labial wall in class III prep.

Can be used in a cleaving motion like a hatchet.

Answer 4

Distal Margin Trimmer

Question 5

Used to check for caries, calculus, and to evaluate restoration margins

Answer 5

Shepard’s Hook Explorer

Question 6

Used to measure the depth of the gingival crevice, to check for pocket formation. It is calibrated in mm and may be used to measure other dimensions as well

Answer 6

Periodontal Probe

Question 7

Used for removal of soft, leathery, and dry, powdery caries from a tooth prep. Because it is a larger, it may be useful when a large lesion threatens to expose a pulp horn. There will be less force per unit area with the large excavator, so an exposure may be less likely.

Answer 7

Large Spoon Excavator

Question 8

Used in a cleaving movement to remove undermined enamel, especially from the buccal and lingual margins of class II prep boxes.

1.5 mm blade side-to-side. Can be useful measuring isthmus width, if a wider, 1.5mm. Isthmus is desired. It is also useful for measuring the axial depth of a class II box prep, when 1.5mm, depth is called for.

Answer 8

Large Enamel Hatchet

Question 9

Used in the same way and for the same purposes as the distal margin trimmer, but will be used to trim undermined enamel from the gingival margin of a MESIAL box on a class II prep.

Answer 9

Mesial Margin Trimmer

Question 10

The spatula end of this instrument is used to mix and the ball shaped end is used to place insulating base materials such as calcium hydroxide or glass ionomer in deep preps.

The small ball-shaped end can be useful as a condenser for amalgam or composite in very small preps

Answer 10

“Dycal” Instrument

Question 11

Used to condense amalgam into a preparation. It may also be used with composite resin restorations.

Answer 11

Small Hollenback Condenser

Question 12

Used to carve amalgam after it has been condensed. It is useful for carving both occlusal and inter-proximal margins. It resembles an 8A plastic instrument - don’t confuse them. The 8A has rounded tips.

Answer 12

Hollenback Carver

Question 13

Used for pre-carve burnishing of amalgam, and can be used to burnish the matrix band in the contact area before packing a class II restoration (to achieve more convexity and better contact on the final restoration.

Can be used to level a class I or class II composite occlusal before curing

Answer 13

Ball Burnisher

Question 14

Used to pick up mixed amalgam from the amalgam well and to place it in the prep for condensation

Answer 14

Amalgam Carrier

Question 15

Used to pack amalgam into a prep. It may also be used to pack composite resin

Answer 15

Large Hollenback Condenser