What's inside

🦷 Instrument cheat sheet

Every basic instrument by name and job — mirror, explorer, cotton pliers, spoon excavator, condensers, carvers and more, with what each one is for.

🧰 Tray setups

Exam, composite/restorative, crown & bridge, extraction, and endo trays — what goes on each, in order, so you set up with confidence.

🔢 Tooth numbering

The Universal Numbering System made simple — 1–32, quadrants, and the primary (A–T) teeth, with a quick visual map.

🔤 Abbreviations & terms

The chart shorthand you'll see every day — MOD, BWX, PA, FMX, pano, prophy, comp, ext — decoded.

📋 State-board quick study

The high-yield topics: infection control, radiology safety, chairside, and instrument processing — the stuff that shows up most.

🖨️ Phone-ready & printable

Pull it up on your phone between patients, or print it and stick it on the fridge. It lives in your member area forever.

🦷 Instrument cheat sheet

Mouth mirror	Indirect vision, retract the cheek/tongue, reflect light.
Explorer	Detect decay, calculus, and check margins by feel.
Cotton pliers	Pick up and place small items (cotton, wedges) in the mouth.
Periodontal probe	Measure sulcus/pocket depth in millimeters.
Spoon excavator	Remove soft decay and temporary cement.
Condenser (plugger)	Pack and condense restorative material into the prep.
Carver (e.g. discoid-cleoid)	Shape tooth anatomy into the restoration before it sets.
Burnisher	Smooth and adapt the margins of a restoration.
Amalgam carrier	Carry and dispense amalgam to the prep.
HVE tip	High-volume evacuation — keeps the field dry, removes debris/aerosol.
Saliva ejector	Low-volume suction for patient comfort and pooled saliva.

🧰 Tray setups

Basic exam

Mouth mirror · explorer · cotton pliers · (gauze, cotton rolls).

Composite / restorative

Exam set · spoon excavator · condenser · carver · burnisher · composite instrument · matrix & wedge · bite block.

Crown & bridge

Exam set · spoon excavator · condenser · carver · impression/scan supplies · temporary material · bite block.

Extraction

Mouth mirror · anesthetic syringe · elevators · forceps · gauze · (surgical curette as needed).

Endodontics (root canal)

Exam set (mirror · explorer · cotton pliers) · anesthetic syringe · files · rubber dam setup · bite block.

Always remember

Set up in order of use, keep the field dry, and follow your operatory's protocol. Practice it in the Tray Builder.

🔢 Tooth numbering (Universal System)

Permanent teeth: numbered 1–32. #1 = upper-right third molar (wisdom), counting across the top to #16 (upper-left), then dropping down to #17 (lower-left third molar) and across to #32 (lower-right).

Quadrants: Upper right 1–8 · Upper left 9–16 · Lower left 17–24 · Lower right 25–32.

Primary (baby) teeth: lettered A–T, same path — A = upper-right second molar to J (upper-left), K (lower-left) to T (lower-right).

Tip: #8 and #9 are your two upper front central incisors — a fast way to orient yourself on any chart.

🔤 Common abbreviations

BWX — bitewing x-rays

PA — periapical x-ray

FMX — full mouth series

Pano — panoramic x-ray

Prophy — cleaning

Comp — composite filling

Amal — amalgam filling

Ext — extraction

MOD — mesial-occlusal-distal

RCT — root canal therapy

Crn — crown

N/V — new/recall visit

📋 State-board quick study

Infection control

Hand hygiene, PPE (gloves, mask, eyewear), surface barriers, and instrument processing: clean → package → sterilize (autoclave) → store. Dirty vs. clean flow is one-direction. Spore tests verify the autoclave.

Radiology safety

ALARA — As Low As Reasonably Achievable. Lead apron + thyroid collar, correct exposure, and never hold the sensor for the patient. Know film/PSP/sensor handling.

Chairside

Four-handed dentistry, instrument transfer, isolation and moisture control, and anticipating the dentist's next instrument. Tray set up in order of use.

This is a study aid. Your state board's official requirements always govern — confirm specifics with your instructor and the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners.

The Dental Assistant Study Pack

What's inside

🦷 Instrument cheat sheet

🧰 Tray setups

🔢 Tooth numbering

🔤 Abbreviations & terms

📋 State-board quick study

🖨️ Phone-ready & printable

Dental Assistant Study Pack

🦷 Instrument cheat sheet

🧰 Tray setups

Basic exam

Composite / restorative

Crown & bridge

Extraction

Endodontics (root canal)

Always remember

🔢 Tooth numbering (Universal System)

🔤 Common abbreviations

📋 State-board quick study

Infection control

Radiology safety

Chairside