(Image Source: bit.ly/2gKABgg) Are you one who trembles at the sight of a dentist’s tray in a Makati dental clinic ? Does seeing or feeling unknown instruments penetrating your mouth give you an irrational discomfort? We understand your fear, and there’s really nothing to be ashamed of. Fear of the unknown often causes us anxiety beyond our control, including your phobia of dentists. One way to overcome such fear is by gaining knowledge of what these instruments are and what they do, which we will be discussing below. Mouth mirrors – is a small, round, angled mirror at the end of a metal stick used to see hidden areas of the tooth such as the back part. It is also used to retract the cheeks and tongue as well as reflect light to increase visibility. Dental explorer – aka sickle probe or scaler, is a thin, angled hook at the end of a metal stick used to examine the tooth’s surface. This instrument tests the tooth’s hardness and determines the amount of plaque, tartar, and en