The examination set-up is the highest-traffic tray in any practice — assembled dozens of times a day, autoclaved constantly, and handled by everyone. Small specification choices compound at that frequency. Here is the selection logic, instrument by instrument.
The core trio
- Mouth mirror. Size 4 (22 mm) is the everyday default; size 5 for larger fields. Front-surface mirrors put the reflective coating on top of the glass, eliminating the double image of cheaper rear-surface mirrors — at this price difference there is little reason to accept ghosting. Separate handles with replaceable heads cut long-run cost.
- Explorer probe. The Shepherd's hook (No. 23) remains the standard pattern for surface examination; double-ended patterns add an interproximal tine. Tip sharpness is the wear point — a rounded explorer tells you less.
- College tweezers. Serrated tips hold cotton rolls and small items securely; a locking pattern frees the grip during transfer. Titanium-coated versions resist marking and clean up well.
Worth adding to the standard set
A periodontal probe turns screening into measurement — note that graduated probes used clinically for measurement sit in a different regulatory category than non-measuring instruments, a distinction covered in our CE marking guide. Beyond that: a second mirror for retraction, a bib holder with crocodile clips to keep the patient napkin in place through the appointment, and an inspection light or head-mounted magnifier for surgeries that do without ceiling-mounted magnification.
Keep the set a set
Examination instruments work best managed as fixed sets in a locking cassette — three to five instruments per cassette, identical contents across every cassette in rotation, so any gap or damaged instrument is visible at a glance during decon. Build yours from the examination & diagnostic range; the 3-piece sets with pouch are the fastest starting point, and high-frequency reprocessing makes the habits in the autoclave care guide pay off quickest on this tray.
Further reading
- Cassettes vs trays: organising reprocessing
- Autoclave care for stainless instruments
- CE marking on dental instruments: what to check
Related reading
- The dental instruments buyer’s guide — how to judge steel, joints and finish, plus provenance and care — the guide that ties the range together.
- Periodontal scalers and Gracey curettes — choosing the hand-scaling instruments for the same tray.