Dentistry
is a specialized branch of medicine that focuses on the study, diagnosis,
treatment, and prevention of the diseases that target the oral cavity and its
surrounding areas. Although it only focuses on oral health care, dentistry is
considered to be important for the maintenance of overall health, since oral
conditions and diseases greatly affect the other body systems.
As
with other medical and health care professions, dentists make use of instruments
and equipment to facilitate the examinations and procedures to be performed on
the patients. These instruments may be as simple as probing sticks, or as
complex as surgical tools.
One
of the most commonly used dental examination tool is the mouth mirror, also
called the dentist’s mirror. It has a small round mirror at one end. It used to
view the areas in the mouth that the dentist cannot see very well. Even with an
overhead light, some areas of the mouth may still be hard to see. The mouth
mirror is also used to reflect light onto certain areas. It may also be used to
retract soft tissues such as the tongue and inner cheeks, so that the dentist
can have a better view of the teeth.
Dentists Fishers IN
patients approach also
use dental probes to examine the gums and teeth. Some of these probes, like the
dental explorer, have sharp, thin ends. One type of probe, the periodontal probe,
is used to measure pocket depth around a tooth; this helps determine the health
condition of the tissues that support the teeth.
Dental
drills, or dental hand pieces, are also used by the dentists Fishers IN has. The dental drill
is used to remove decayed tooth material before inserting a dental filling. Extraction
and surgical tools such as dental pliers are used to pull out a tooth. Dentists
also use retracting instruments such as mouth props and retractors. These are
used to keep the mouths of the patients steadily open.
Of
course, before any dental procedure or treatment commences, dentists Fishers patients trust first
administer anesthesia to the ones undergoing the procedure. A dental syringe
may be used in the administration, although there are cases when a dentist uses
nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, as anesthesia.