Question about dental tools

[lzbthcox]

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I'm not sure if this is in the right forum. I apologize in advance if it is not.

I am doing a speech in my Comm class soon on fear of dentist and dental procedures. I have it just about together, but I cannot find one thing. Why are dental tools metal? The needles in a dentist office looks much different from the one in a doctors office. I want to be prepared if this question is asked. Does anyone know the answer?

My guess was so the item could be sterilized and reused.

Thank you,
Liz

 

[harjay]

Dental tools? or dental syringes?
Nearly all tools are made of metal so they can be autoclaved and re-used.

Syringes are also re-used. They are typically only used for anesthetic (Lidocaine, carbocaine etc), which come in individual glass carpules. These carpules and the needle itself are disposable, but the syringe case and handle are sterilized and re-used.

I'm assuimg the doctor's office needles you are referring to are shots? These are usually all disposable. The case is plastic and carries a single use of the shot, which is disposed of afterwards.

 

[lzbthcox]

Yes I meant the syringes, and the use of shots in the dr's office. Thank you so much for your reply.

Liz

 

[crrees]

syringe needles i think are metal to increase sharpness. I dont know if plastic could get that sharp? I would imagine heat transfer through a syringe is quicker since its metal allowing it to be lit for sterilization

 

[Elipar]

I doubt the syringe needles are metal to increase sharpness, but rather to decrease breakage... nothing worse than a broken needle tip swimming in the cheek. As others have stated, the primary reason is for sterilization purposes. Secondarily, and maybe more important, dentists have to aspirate for blood, whereas doctors usually administer intramuscularly. The disposable syringes that doctors use are not easy to aspirate. Finally, the metal syringes only accept standard 1.8mL cartridges. The disposable ones range from 3cc upward. I observed an operating room surgery where the oral surgeon used a 6cc disposable syringe instead of a metal one. Faster to administer anesthetic that way. Good luck on your speech!