1. Introduction to Dental Lab Equipment
DA 108 Dental Materials

2. Safety First! DA must wear safety glasses during these lab activities:
1. operation of rotary equipment
Dental lathe
Model trimmer
Handpiece
2. using the Bunsen Burner
3. chipping plaster or stone from impressions or models

3. Model Trimmer Trim excess material from gypsum or plaster models
Always use safety glasses and protective shield
Always wear lab coat and or lab apron
Gloves should not be worn

4. Model Trimmer Safety
Keep hands firmly secured against metal base of model trimmer
Do not allow model to lift off base of trimmer
Keep fingers away from wheel. Pay close attention to where your hands are!
Keep eyes on model to prevent over-trimming
Flush with clear water when finished with trimmer

5. Model Vibrator
Removes bubbles when pouring gypsum into impressions to make model
Use paper or plastic cover to protect unit from spills

6. Vacuum Machine
Forms flat plastic sheets into 3-dimensional shapes by heating and molding over model of patient’s teeth
Stay nearby while machine is heating up
AKA Vacuformer

7. Burners and Torches Warm or soften wax
Heat solutions and dental materials
Turn off immediately after use; do not leave unattended
Tie hair away from face
Alcohol torch has similar uses
Bunsen Burner
Alcohol
torch

8. Dental Lathe Polish dentures, crowns, bridges, inlays Right/Left chuck
Keep plastic shield down for safety
Use pumice slurry for polishing
New pumice for each use

9. Vacuum Mixing Machine Automatically mixes stone and plaster
Creates smooth surfaces on models

10. Dental Engines
Holds burs and wheels when trimming or polishing appliances in the dental lab
Dremel Tool
used in
class lab

11. Plaster/Gypsum Bins Stores bulk plaster or gypsum for easy access
We use smaller labeled canisters in class

12. Articulator Hinged metal device that imitates the movement of the jaw
Patient’s models are attached to simulate jaw movements and dental occlusion

13. Dental Lab Bench Counters where lab technicians can sit and work
Some include storage areas

14. Sandblaster Uses fine sand to shape or clean metal appliances
Ventilated area, or suction
Micro-etcher, used in mouth; requires safety glasses and mask
Patient wears glasses also

15. Waxing unit
Keeps dental wax melted
HOT: use caution

16. Lab Spatulas Used to mix lab materials Variety of sizes
Flexible or stiff
Specific to dental material mixed

17. Wax Spatulas Used to carve and shape wax items
Various sizes and shapes

18. Lab Knives
Used to cut various lab materials
Many sizes and shapes

19. Shears or Nippers Used to trim waxes, plastic sheets, other items
Act like heavy-duty scissors

20. Rubber Bowls Used to hold materials as they are mixed Flexible
Sized according to amount of material
Acrylic bowl
Alginate Bowls

21. More on bowls
Always disinfect alginate bowl after taking impressions on human.
Not necessary when working on typodont