Plugger and Burnisher

            Dental hand instruments are used for a multitude of dental procedures, including restorations. Some of the most fundamental ones for your practice are introduced below:

1)     Plugger/Carver/Mini Spatula

This instrument is primarily a contact former – creating interdental tight contact areas as well as true-tight contact points. Additionally, it allows for improved interproximal shaping. Having a titanium handle (8 mm thick and less than 17 g in weight), reduces the likeliness of hand fatigue due to the lighter weight in addition to the increased durability and resistance to corrosion provided by said material. Moreover, the working parts of the mini spatula having a thickness no greater than 0.5 mm allows for delicate restorations of the front teeth. Lastly, the thickness, strength and flexibility of this type of dental hand instruments is optimized by special heat treatment.

Tashmed offers two different shapes of these Pluggers/Carvers/Mini spatulas: inverted cone (which come in small, medium and large sizes) and inverted cone – sickle (which come in small and medium sizes).  

2)     Burnisher – Plugger, Ball-Ended

This instrument is mainly used for:

Condensing and packing dental materials

A restoration’s longevity and stability as well as the minimization of gaps is achieved through the packing and condensing of dental materials. Such materials may include amalgam or composite resin. The ball-ended tip ensures the tight packing and adaptation of material to the cavity walls.

Contouring and shaping

Once placed in the cavity, the dental materials can be contoured and shaped using the rounded ball-end. Further, a functional and aesthetic restoration can be achieved by using the Burnisher-Plugger to smooth out surfaces and create anatomical shapes that mimic natural tooth contours.

Finishing and polishing

Appearance and function of the restoration can be enhanced by the Burnisher-Plugger with a ball-ended tip. It may be used in the initial stages of restoration polishing and finishing – providing a glossy finish and smoothing any rough edges.  

Tashmed offers two types of said Burnisher-Pluggers: ball-ended (with a choice between small and large sizes) as well as ball-ended, curved (with a choice between small and medium sizes).

Both of the dental hand instruments mentioned previously are reusable and supplied in a non-sterile state. Therefore, it is crucial that instruments be sterilized prior to their first use as well as after every use. With that said, cleaning agents with a high percentage of chlorine or ones containing oxalic acid should not be used. As well, instruments should not be kept in a liquid medium for longer than 3 hours. Another tip for upkeep of these devices includes refraining from using brushes or other sharp/abrasive tools to clean them. In order to maximize patient safety, dental hand instruments should be inspected for traces of corrosion, breakage, bending or damage of the working parts before each use – if any of the above appear, instruments should not be used. Lastly, the dental hand instruments mentioned above should not be treated with lubricant under any circumstances.

Dental hand instruments such as the Plugger/Carver/Mini Spatula or the Ball-Ended, Burnisher – Plugger are essential in various stages of dental restorations. Hence, it is important to choose which size and type suits your needs the most. However, regardless of which instrument you pick, it is guaranteed to greatly aid in the restorative process so long as proper care and the outlined sterilization protocol are maintained.