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Mirrors, straws, sprayers and more! Meet the tools you might see at a dental visit, find out what each one does, and learn what grown-ups can ask.
Dentists use special tools to see, count, clean and protect your teeth. Most of them are small, and some just tickle. Before the team uses a tool, you can ask to see it, hear it or touch it first.
Your goal today: learn the names of some dental tools and what each one is for.
Ask: Can you show me first? Dentists call this tell-show-do. They tell you, show you, and then do it.
Every tool has a job. Some help the dentist see, some help clean, and some keep your mouth dry and comfy.
Every office is a little different, but here are some tools you might meet:
Most dental tools have one of three big jobs.
The mirror, the big light and X-ray pictures help the dentist see every part of your teeth.
Toothbrushes, floss, polishing cups and small scraping tools remove plaque and tartar.
The air sprayer, suction straw and cotton keep your mouth dry so the team can work.
It helps the dentist see the backs and sides of your teeth.
Can you show me first? You can see it, hear it or touch it before it is used.
Tell-show-do. The AAPD describes tell-show-do as a core way to help children at the dentist. The team explains a step in words that fit the child’s age, shows what the tool looks, sounds, smells and feels like in a calm way, and then does exactly what they described. The goal is to make the setting and the tools familiar and to set clear expectations.
Previewing helps. The AAPD also describes looking at positive pictures or videos of a dental visit beforehand, so children know what to expect and can think of questions. Looking at this page together is one way to do that.
Plaque: the soft, sticky film on teeth. Tartar or calculus: hard buildup that brushing cannot remove. Cavity or caries: a spot where decay has damaged a tooth. Prophy: a professional cleaning. Bitewing: an X-ray of the back teeth. Sealant: a protective coating on chewing surfaces. See Dental X-rays and Sealants.
That is usually an explorer or a probe. Dentists use them to gently check the surfaces of teeth and to measure the gums. The AAPD says routine gum measurements usually begin after the first permanent molars and front teeth come in, as the child is comfortable.
It removes water and saliva during a visit so your child’s mouth does not fill up. It can make a slurping sound, and some children like to hold it themselves.
Dentists call it a handpiece. It is used to remove decay and shape a tooth for a filling. It spins quickly, makes a whirring sound, and sprays water to keep the tooth cool. The dentist can numb the tooth first when needed. Your child can ask to hear it before it is used.
That is the nasal hood used for nitrous oxide, a gas that helps children relax. Your child breathes through their nose and stays awake. See Nitrous oxide.
A small, flat sensor or piece of film that your child holds in the mouth while a quick picture is taken. The AAPD says pictures taken inside the mouth are the standard X-ray for children. See Dental X-rays.
Small hand tools and ultrasonic scalers, which vibrate and spray water, remove tartar that brushing cannot. The AAPD notes ultrasonic tools may be gentler on the gums and quicker than hand tools. See Dental cleanings.
That is a mouth prop or bite block. It gives tired jaw muscles a rest while your child keeps their mouth open. The AAPD notes that using a mouth prop with a cooperative child is not considered a form of restraint.
Ask the team to let your child hear each tool before it is used, as part of tell-show-do. Music or a show can also help. The AAPD lists music and videos as ways to help children feel calmer. See Helping a nervous child.
The descriptions of what each tool looks like and does are general, everyday explanations. The clinical statements (tell-show-do and previewing, when gum measurements begin, cleaning tools, the nitrous oxide nose mask, X-ray sensors and mouth props) come from the AAPD documents listed below.
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This website is for education only and does not replace care from your dentist, physician, or emergency services.