Dental Hand Tools

Study Correlates Antimicrobial Peptides and Tooth Decay in Children

admin — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 01:00:43 +0000

Human saliva, though at times being given less attention, performs a crucial task in battling the injurious pathogens in the mouth and in thwarting the tooth decay. Pathogens are any virus, microorganisms, or other substances that cause disease. A primary factor of the first-line oral defense mechanism of the saliva is the alleged secreted antimicrobial peptides also known as AMPs. Peptides is a compound of two or more amino acids in which a carboxyl group of one is united with an amino group of another, with the elimination of a molecule of water, thus forming a peptide bond such as a substituted amide.
Antimicrobial peptides also known as host defense peptides are evolutionarily preserved factor of the inherent immune response and are seen among every class of life. These peptides are potent, wide spectrum antibiotics that display possibility as new therapeutic agents. Antimicrobial peptides have been revealed to destroy gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria involving strains that are resistant to traditional antibiotics, mycobacteria, enclosed viruses, fungi and even altered or cancerous cells. Nothing like the greater part of traditional antibiotics it seems as though antimicrobial peptides may also have the capability to improve immunity through acting as immunomodulators. (more…)

Scientists Create Mouse Model That Mimics Human Dental Disorder

admin — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 23:58:58 +0000

Craniofacial Research or NIDCR has produced a mouse model having tooth abnormalities comparable to those of individuals suffering from dentinogenesis imperfecta III. The model will let the scientists study more regarding how the hereditary disease increases and offers a device for building up and trying out the treatments.
The scientist who produced the mouse model is Dr. Ashok Kulkarni together with his contemporaries by means of canceling or knocking out the dentin sialophosphoprotein or DSPP gene, which is identified to be the one accountable for directing the mineralization of a dentin of a tooth. The teeth of the animals demonstrated staining, big pulp cavities, and pulp exposure. Comprehensive analysis of the teeth showed defects in the dentin. Dentin is a hard substance comparable to bone that covers approximately three-fourths of an adult tooth. It is situated between the exterior enamel and the inmost core of the tooth known as the dental pulp. (more…)

Composite Placement Instruments

admin — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:54:03 +0000

Instruments used in the placement of composite filling materials are available in different sizes and shapes at the working end. The most common is the Woodson (3060/3064/3065). One of the ends is paddle-shaped, used to carry and place composite and temporary restorative materials into the prepared cavity. The plugger end, which resembles an inverted cone, is used to condense restorative materials into cavity. Another type of composite instrument is the plastic instrument. This single or double–ended instrument has a flat head. It comes in various sizes that range from small to large and varies in shapes. Some are paddle-shaped (3059/3069/3066/3067/3080). Some are spoon-shaped (3063/3076). Others are like knife like (3070).

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Amalgam Instruments

admin — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:53:17 +0000

Amalgam carriers are used to pick-up, transport, and pack freshly mixed amalgam into the prepared cavity. There are two types of carriers: the lever and plunger type. Plunger type is single-ended while lever type is either in single or double ended form.

The freshly mixed amalgam is loaded into the carrier and the plunger or lever pushes the material out from the working end into the cavity preparation. Care must be taken to expel the excess amalgam before it sets inside the working end because it will be hard to remove it when it has already set. The inside walls of the tube is sometimes coated with Teflon so that the amalgam will not stick.

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Wax, Porcelain, and Modeling Carvers

admin — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:52:14 +0000

There is a wide range of carvers for dental wax patterns, porcelain, and other dental restorative materials but only few of them are commonly used today.

Discoid-cleoid is valuable in carving occlusal anatomy of wax models and also on almost all types of dental restorative materials, especially amalgam. Cleoid-discoids are double-ended instruments with one end that is disc-shaped and the other is ovoid-shaped that tapers to a point. The edges of both working ends are sharp for carving materials in a scraping motion. They are also used for burnishing inlay margins. They are available in straight, mono, and bi-angled types.

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Maxillary Extraction Forceps

admin — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:50:54 +0000

The single-rooted maxillary teeth are usually removed with maxillary universal forceps, usually numbered 150. The Cryer No. 150 forceps (as seen on p.20) are slightly curved when viewed from the side and are essentially straight when viewed from above. The beaks of the forceps curve to meet only at the tip. The slight curve of No. 150 allows the operator to reach not only the incisors, but also the bicuspids in a comfortable fashion. The beak of No. 150 forceps has been modified slightly to form the No. 150A (cryer parallel beaks) and No. 150AS (serrated split beaks)forceps. Kells/99C (p.19) is also used for maxillary incisors and canines. However, it is slightly easier to use than the No. 150 because it’s beak is parallel to it’s handle and the half end of the beaks are flattened so that they lay parallel with each other. A smaller version of the No. 150, the No. 150S, is useful for removing primary teeth. These adapt well to all maxillary primary teeth and can be used as universal primary tooth forceps.

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Mandibular Extraction forceps

admin — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:49:55 +0000

Extraction of the mandibular teeth requires forceps that can be used for single-rooted teeth, the incisors, the canines, and the premolars and for two-rooted teeth, the molars.

The forceps most commonly used for the single-rooted teeth are the lower universal forceps or the No. 151. These have handles similar in shape to the No. 150 but the beaks are pointed inferiorly for the lower teeth. The beaks are smooth and relatively narrow and meet only at the tip. This allows the beaks to fit at the cervical line of the tooth and grasp the root.

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Hand Cutting Operative Instruments

admin — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 16:48:49 +0000

Hand cutting instruments are handheld instruments designed for cutting hard dental tissues. Like any other hand instruments, they are consist of three parts: the handle or shaft; the shank, which connects the handle to the working end; and the blade.

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