How to Use Contouring Pliers for Dental Procedures

When contouring is used in dentistry, it usually refers to using a tool called a contouring plier. These pliers are used for creating a clean finish during restorative dental procedures. The purpose of this article is to help you understand what these pliers are, how they work, and how they can be used during your dental procedure.Contouring as it applies to the field of dentistry has very little to do with duck hunting or the art of carving sculptures out of blocks of stone. In fact, when it comes to dentistry, ‘contouring’ refers to the art and science of reshaping the gingival tissue so that it blends together seamlessly. However, since we are discussing tools and techniques, we will use that more common definition. Read on to learn more about contouring pliers as they relate specifically to your dental procedures.

What are Dental Contouring Pliers?

Contouring pliers are sterile, high-quality dental tools used to reshape soft or gingival tissue. They are long-handled pliers that feature a special blade-type attachment that can be adjusted for different levels of pressure and for specific uses. They are specifically designed for forming and sculpting gingival tissue, and are often used by dentists who specialize in esthetic dentistry. Although they are sometimes also referred to as finishing pliers, there is a significant difference between the two tools – but we’ll get to that in a minute.

Contouring pliers are used for a variety of dental procedures including reshaping gums, placing crowns, and removing excess gum tissue. They are also often used by orthodontic specialists to correct minor imperfections in the gums. Depending on the type of procedure, contouring pliers dental can be used to sculpt tissue while the area is still numb or to finish/clean-up the tissue after the anesthetic has worn off.

How do Dental Contouring Pliers Work?

Technically, contouring pliers are scissors – but you probably won’t find them in the sewing cabinet. They are a type of orthodontic finishing pliers designed to trim and shape soft tissue such as gums. They are different from conventional finishing pliers in that they feature a special serrated blade attachment that allows the dentist to apply just the right amount of pressure to the tissue. This special blade attachment on the pliers is adjustable so that you can control how much pressure is applied during the procedure. Too much pressure can cause the tissue to bleed.

Not enough pressure and the tissue won’t be sculpted to the desired finish. In order to sculpt soft tissue with the contouring pliers dental the dentist first applies a small amount of local anesthesia to the gum tissue to numb it. The local anesthetic helps to prevent the gums from bleeding excessively when the pliers are used to sculpt them.

Why Are Dental Contouring Pliers Used?

Contouring pliers dental are used to sculpt soft tissue to a desired finish. This is usually done in the area around the gum line. The specific area where you will use the contouring pliers will depend on what type of procedure you are having done.

If you are having a crown placed on a tooth, for example, you will use the contouring pliers to sculpt the tissue around the area where the crown will be placed. The overall goal of using these pliers is to ensure that the gums and the tissue around the teeth are as smooth and even as possible. This will help to improve the aesthetics of the teeth, which is an important part of any restorative dental procedure.

When Should You Use Dental Contouring Pliers?

Depending on the type of procedure you are having done, you may use the pliers at the start of the dental procedure (while the gums are numb) or you may use them at the end of the procedure to clean up the gums and tidy up the finish. Generally speaking, you will use the pliers at the end of the procedure to sculpt the tissue once the area has been numbed. The specific timing will depend on the type of procedure you are having done.

You will want to follow the instructions of your dentist. Generally speaking, contouring pliers dental are used whenever a dentist needs to reshape soft tissue or clean up the finish  of the gingival tissue. They are used to sculpt the tissue to a specific shape, level of thickness, or texture. This can include sculpting again after the dentist has used a hand scalpel to remove excess gum tissue during a gum graft procedure.

How to Use Dental Contouring Pliers?

Depending on the procedures, you may use the contouring pliers to sculpt the tissue while the area is numb or after the anesthetic has worn off. Generally speaking, the process is as follows: Once you have been numbed, the dentist will use the pliers to sculpt the area where the excess tissue was removed. This may be the gum tissue or it may be the area where the crown will be placed. Once the tissue has been sculpted and the dentist is satisfied with the finish, they will place the final restoration. At this point, the contouring pliers can be used to clean up any excess tissue that may have been left behind.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that reshaping the gingival tissue is an important part of any dental procedure. In order to ensure that the teeth are functional and comfortable, their surrounding areas must be healthy and smooth. You will likely use the dental contouring pliers during your dental procedure to sculpt and reshape the gingival tissue so that it is as smooth and even as possible. The overall goal is to make the tissue as thin and level as possible so that the teeth will be more comfortable and easier to clean. The more even the tissue is, the less likely it will be to become infected or cause issues in the future. The pliers are an important tool that can be used by dentists in all fields of dentistry.

References:

1-The soft tissue barrier at implants and teeth

Published: April?June 1991

doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0501.1991.020206.x

2-Two Principles for Improving the Adaptation of Stainless Steel Crowns to Primary Molars

Published: 12 May 2022

doi.org/10.1016/S0011-8532(22)02272-8