A dental instrument used for condensing gold (foil), amalgam, or any plastic material in a cavity; operated by hand or by mechanical means. SYN: packer (2), plugging instrument.
- automatic p. a mechanically or electrically activated device used to provide condensing pressure in the placement of amalgam or gold foil in a cavity preparation. SYN: automatic condenser.
- back-action p. an instrument for condensing gold foil or amalgam in areas that cannot be reached directly.
- foot p. a p. the shape of which resembles a foot, used for condensing gold foil; the working surface may be flat or curved in the heel-toe direction.
- root canal p. fine-tapered root canal instrument, blunt at the tip, used for pressing or forcing a gutta percha cone into a root canal.
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plug·ger 'pləg-ər n a dental instrument used for packing, condensing, and consolidating filling material in a tooth cavity
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plug·ger (plugґər) a dental instrument used for packing, condensing, and compacting filling material into a tooth cavity.Medical dictionary. 2011.