Scalers resemble metal hooks. They are used to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth of animals. Side scalers also clean the grooves of animal teeth. Super gingival scalers are used above the gums to remove calculus, whereas subgingival curettes remove plaque from below the gum lines.
A dental forceps resembles a pair of pliers. It is used on small animals like cats and dogs. Some forceps are in right angle forms to reduce the chance of fracturing small teeth when pulling during an extraction. Tartar removing forceps have curved beaks to remove plaque and debris without injuring or hurting the animal's mouth. The small design of the tooth extraction forceps helps it to better clutch small teeth. This enables the veterinarian to pull the teeth out of the socket.
A dental elevator is a minute lever with a stubby or slim handle. This tool is placed around the tooth being removed to help pull it out of the socket. Periosteal elevators lift the teeth of carnivores such as dogs, tigers and lions. Generally, these tools cut the periodontal ligament to loosen the teeth, which makes them easier to remove. Very fine periosteal elevators are available for smaller carnivores like cats.
An all-in-one dental cart saves space and time during the cleaning of animal teeth. This tool contains equipment required to clean the teeth of a small pet (such as a guinea pig). Curettes cut and scrape swollen gums resulting from periodontitis. A set of rubber and interchangeable drill bits, also referred to as burs, create holes for filling the teeth of animals. The all-in-one dental cart also contains an ultrasonic scaler that scrapes tartar and plaque off of the animals' teeth.