Dental tools

There are many reasons people fear a visit to the dentist's office. Most commonly, they fear the discomfort and occasional pain that can accompany dental work. Some are uncomfortable with the inherently invasive nature of dental procedures. A lack of understanding about dentistry and the unusual-looking tools that are used can play a part too. Patients benefit from understanding the work dentists perform and the tools they use to do it.

Probes

When a patient goes for a general dental checkup, the dentist uses a number of different types of hand-held stainless steel probes or sharp-pointed tools. The most common ones are called the sickle or contra-angled probes. By softly poking the sharp end of these instruments into the patient's teeth and gums, the dentist can measure the depth of the gum pockets and look for holes in the enamel to determine gum and tooth decay. The probes can also locate fissures and problems that are developing with a crown or bridge.