Dental implants are the perfect replacements for missing teeth. Patients these days are opting for implants over bridges and dentures. Dental Implants not only offer a perfect smile but also offer better functionality over other replacement options. The implantation procedure should hence be quick, easy, and less uncomfortable to patients as well. Advancements in technology and dental science have made it possible to accomplish the procedure in less time and have made healing and recovery easier for the patient. The instruments that come into use for the Implantation procedure should be reliable, modern, efficient, and durable.
Correct dental Instruments are the extensions of the hands of the operator. Advancement in technology has led to advancements in the designs of dental tools as well. It is an ongoing process, and efforts are being made to design and develop tools that help the operator perform the procedure and cause minimal discomfort to the patients.
The Implantation procedure requires an array of equipment that is discussed in the following text. These include Bone grafting pluggers, curettes and scalers, Dental rongeurs and retractors, Luxating elevators and Implant osteotomies, etc.
Bone Grafting Pluggers:
This tool is used to condense the implanted bone on site. Grafting pluggers are handheld pieces of equipment that pack the bone where required. Like all other handheld tools, it has a handle, shank, and working end. The working end can be double or single-sided, it is flat to allow appropriate packing of the bone in place.
Curettes and Scalers:
These handheld Dental instruments are used to remove plaque and calculus from the surfaces of teeth. Cleaning of the implantation site is crucial for a successful procedure. Manually cleaning the area provides many advantages. To prevent the progression of inflammatory diseases around the implant site, curettes and scalers are necessary to clean and prevent calculus development. The stainless steel material is durable and esthetic, it also allows effective sterilization of the tools. Curettes have different working ends to allow for scaling and curettage of different areas of the oral cavity.
Dental Rongeurs and Retractors:
Micro bone Rongeurs come into use for chipping the bone to restore the anatomy of the jaw. The rongeurs are shaped like pliers and have serrated beaks to ensure firm gripping and cutting of the bone. The handles of the rongeurs have a serrated outer body to allow for a good grip of the tool.
Retractors are instruments that retract soft tissues for better visibility inside the oral cavity. Tongue, cheeks, and lips sometimes hinder the implantation/ surgical site hence they need to be held away during the procedure. The retractors are available in many designs, the Weider tongue depressor has a flat wide end that keeps the tongue in place, the tool is “l” shaped with smooth ends. It has blunt ends that prevent any trauma from the tool to the mucosa. The chalazion mucocele retractor is another tool for the retraction of soft tissues. The instrument has double prongs that are blunt to allow effective holding away of soft tissues.
Luxating elevators:
This tool is for luxating the teeth out of their sockets for extraction purposes. Luxating elevators loosen the Periodontal fibers around the teeth to luxate the teeth. Elevators are sharp tools with long working ends to effectively sever the Periodontal fibers. Luxating elevators come in a variety of designs to facilitate the operator. Some are penlike and many have thick handles to allow good gripping of the instrument.
Implant Osteotomes:
These instruments are designed to compress or deform bone. Placement of implants requires cutting/ contouring of bone to facilitate the procedure. Osteotomes are available in the market with round, flat, and with different designs of working ends. These are long, slender instruments with sharp ends to ensure better contouring of the alveolar bone.
Osteotomes also come into use for ridge spreading, these tools make space for the implant to adhere to the bone. The tool is used by setting the instrument in place and malleting until it finds resistance. It is lubricated with saline or water to make movements easier. Care needs to be taken while the Osteotomes are in use, as a misdirected instrument can cause trauma to different parts of the oral cavity. The stainless steel equipment is sharp, versatile, and durable. Stainless steel does not corrode and allows for a longer-lasting tool in your office.
GerDentUSA is a manufacturer and seller of Dental equipment and another surgical armamentarium. We are trusted by our clients for the quality, reliability, and longevity of our products.