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Health & Fitness

Common Dental Equipment You'll See At Your Next Visit

If you hear the word “dentist” and goosebumps crawl up your arms, then you aren’t alone. There are plenty of people who fear visiting the dentist, and many of these concerns come from many of the tools that your dentist uses at their office. You’ve seen it time and time again - a movie or TV plot where someone is in the dental waiting room, only to hear screaming and the sound of a drill from behind the closed doors. However, visiting the dentist is imperative for your overall health. In order to make you a bit more prepared for your next dental visit, here are some tools that you should expect to see.

Digital X-Ray

One of the first machines that you are likely to see will be the digital x-ray. Your dentist will likely put a mouthpiece in-between your teeth and then ask you to sit still while they take photos of your mouth and teeth. The dentist does this to get a better idea of the health of your teeth and gums below the surface, so it’s a quite important procedure for them to do. Some people fear getting an x-ray because of the size of the machine, but it’s a noninvasive process that will do you wonders in the long run.

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Mirror And Pick

Two of the most common instruments that a dentist will use are their handy mirror and pick. The mirror is small in size, but the dentist uses it to see behind the surface of your teeth to ensure that plaque and tarter is not building up along your gums. If your dentist sees buildup, they’ll use the pick to start scraping away. After doing this, you’ll have healthier and cleaner teeth until your next visit.

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Dental Chair

The dental chair typically looks like something that is actually quite comforting and relaxing. After all, it reclines quite nicely and you may even have a nice view to look out into. Unfortunately, there is a large light that will shine down on you and your dentist will be prodding around in your mouth as you recline back. That said, many dentists aim to provide patients with extra-comfortable dental chairs, in order to ensure that the patient feels relaxed during their visit.

Suction Tubes

If your dentist does a bit of extra work, maybe as they chip away at certain buildup or even help give you a deeper clean, then they may also use a suction machine that they stick inside your mouth. This machine may feel a bit weird at first, but it’s used to ensure that nothing goes down your throat. If the suction machine scares you, keep in mind that the alternative is to have food buildup and other bacteria go down your esophagus. That suction tube doesn’t sound so bad now, does it?

Going to the dentist can be a chore. But if you at least know what to expect, then it can often be a more enjoyable experience. The next time you visit the dentist, keep an eye out for any of these instruments and know that they are helping you maintain better overall oral health.

This Article is provided by Patrick J. Crawford DD and he is a dentist and his clinic is located at Kenosha, Wisconsin.







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