Which instrument is used to excavate carious dentin?

• A. Excavator
• B. Amalgam plugger
• C. Burnisher
• D. Enamel chisel

Answer: (A)

When removing carious dentin, the goal is to scoop out the soft, infected tissue while preserving as much healthy dentin as possible. An excavator is designed for this exact task; its spoon-shaped blade lets you gently scoop away softened carious dentin and feel the difference in hardness, ensuring you remove the decay without over-preparing the tooth. The other instruments serve different purposes: a plugger packs restorative material like amalgam, a burnisher smooths and finishes the surface of a restoration, and an enamel chisel shapes enamel margins or removes unsupported enamel. Therefore, the instrument that best accomplishes excavating carious dentin is the excavator.