They start with a mouth mirror, looking in the back of your mouth. It also makes it easy to check your cheek or tongue. It makes the dark corners light so nothing gets missed.

Next is the explorer, a thin metal tool with a sharp little hook. Dentists use it to feel tiny holes or rough spots on your teeth. It finds cavities that are in the start and checks the old fillings for cracks. All done with care, so it does not hurt your gums.

After that, the dentist uses a periodontal probe — a thin tool with markings like a ruler. It helps measure the space between your tooth and gum. Healthy gums have shallow spaces. But deeper spaces mean there is a problem that needs attention.

This is a special hand tool. Dentists use it to make the edges of the hole smooth. With a small blade that cuts straight across, the dentist shapes the corner with it and makes little grooves that help hold the filling in place. Hatchets are available in different sizes for different tasks.

This comes with a curved blade and a slanted edge. A perfect margin trimmer is a great tool to clean the part of the hole that goes deep near the gum. The slant helps the dentist to reach tricky spots with ease. It makes it easy to make a smooth edge where the tooth and filling will meet.

Another tool is an enamel chisel. This tool has a flat blade that presses against the hole's wall. It helps to shave off tiny pieces of enamel, making the side of the hole nice and even. It works for teeth like a small wood chisel.

The best tool for this job is a spoon excavator. It looks like a tiny spoon with a sharp edge. Available in various sizes as cavities come in different shapes. The dentist pulls out the soft and mushy decay while keeping the healthy tooth safe. A spoon excavator is best because it works without needing too much pressure.

Other tools look like spoon excavators but have different jobs to do. One of these tools is a periodontal curette — it helps to clean below the gum line, not inside the cavity. Another one is the discoid-cleoid carver, which shapes the filling after it goes in — not made for taking out decay. Also called false friends, as they look similar but have completely different jobs to do.

Amalgam is a silver filling material. It has been in use for a very long time. It is strong and can last for many years. Dentists use an amalgam carrier to put it in the right place. This tool looks like a syringe. The dentist fills it with a soft, liquid silver material, then squeezes it right into the hole created by the cavity.

After the material is in the teeth, the dentist packs it with a condenser. This pushes the material hard against the walls of the cavity. Packing it tightly is important so no gap gets left behind. Finally, the dentist uses a burnisher to smooth the surface. These tools help in the shaping process before the filling hardens.

This is a classic matrix system that has been in use for many years. It consists of three main parts:

• Matrix Band: A thin metal strip that wraps around the tooth like a little wall.
• The Retainer: A metal frame that holds the band tight.
• The Wedge: A small piece of wood or plastic that pushes into the gap between teeth to keep everything in place.

This system is ideal for silver fillings called Class II amalgams. It keeps the filling material in good shape and prevents it from spilling out.

Another one is the sectional matrix system used for composite fillings. This is a newer way of doing things — a small, curved band that fits around one part of the tooth and looks more like a natural tooth. The ring is a special clamp that holds the band in place when the dentist works.

This system is great for the back teeth. It creates a natural-looking curve and tight flossable contact — best for composite materials and helps make the filling look like the original tooth.

This tool is different from both ends. One end is round like a tiny disc — the discoid end. This is to shape the round bump on the top of your tooth that lets you grind food when you chew.

The other end is the same as a small claw — the cleoid end. This tool makes the little lines and grooves that run across the tooth. These grooves give your bite a natural feel and keep food from getting stuck in one spot when you chew.

The Hollenback carver is another double-ended tool, but its ends are thin and flat like little blades. This tool is great for reaching the tight spaces between teeth. The dentist uses it to smooth the sides of the filling and scrape away any extra material that sticks out. Because the blades are so thin, they can slide into narrow gaps without hurting your gums.

These tools are for spaces where your teeth touch each other. They have fine tips to fit into the tight spots where the floss goes. The dentist uses them to make sure the sides of the filling are smooth and the space between teeth is right.

Remember the burnisher from earlier? It comes back for this step, too. For silver amalgam fillings, the dentist uses a burnisher to give the surface a final smooth touch. They rub the rounded tip over the filling to flatten any tiny bumps and seal the edges. This helps keep the filling tight against the tooth and stops food from getting underneath.

For tooth-colored composite fillings, the dentist often uses small spinning tools to get the perfect shine. Finishing burs have many tiny cutting edges — they smooth the surface without chipping the material. Discs come in different textures, from rough to super fine. The dentist uses them to make the filling smooth. Strips are thin and flexible pieces that slide between teeth to polish the sides where floss goes. Silicone polishers have soft, rubbery tips that give the filling its final glossy shine.