Filling Instruments
Amalgam condensers, often called
pluggers, are instruments
used to condense or pack the amalgam filling materials into the cavity
preparation. They have a hammer-like working end that is large enough to
compress the soft amalgam without sinking into it. Condensers can be single-
and double-ended designs. The working ends may be smooth or serrated.
Condensers used to condense the root canal filling material in the prepared
are called
endodontic condensers and are of two types. The first is
a plugger or the vertical condenser. It is used to condense root canal
filling materials vertically. It has serration at given measured intervals
to measure the depth of the prepared root canal.
The second type is called a spreader. It has a contra-angled working end
tapering to a point. It condenses the root canal filling materials
horizontally against the wall of the prepared root canal.
Amalgam carriers are also a king of condensers. They transport the
freshly prepared amalgam to the cavity. They have hollow working ends called
barrels. The amalgam is packed into these barrels for
transportation. They may have single or double working ends with different
sizes of the barrels. Pluggers, spreaders and other condensers are used
after the work of amalgam carrier is through. Carvers and burnishers are
supporting condensers. Together they may also be called
composite resin
instruments. Splatula and Insulating base instruments also come under
this category.
