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Amalgam condenser (plugger)
Also called: condenser, plugger
A flat-ended instrument that packs amalgam tightly into the preparation.
A condenser has a small flat, round or oval face, smooth or serrated (with tiny grooves). It packs amalgam firmly into the preparation and brings excess mercury to the surface so it can be carved away. They come in several sizes for different areas.
How to spot it
- A flat or slightly serrated face on the end, like a tiny stamp.
- Condenser vs. burnisher: the condenser end is flat and pushes straight down; a burnisher end is smooth and rounded (ball or egg) and rubs.
What it is used for
- Packing amalgam into all corners of the preparation, starting with small condensers.
Safety and care
- Semicritical item (it touches the inside of the mouth): clean it, package it and heat-sterilize it after every patient.
Related
Sources: Mt. Hood Community College. Restorative Dentistry (open Pressbooks text): "Placing Amalgam Restorations" and "Amalgam Set Up.", CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)