Which instrument is used to remove any unsupported enamel from cavity edges?

• A. Burnisher
• B. Right angle probe
• C. Flat plastic
• D. Enamel chisel

Answer: (D)

Removing any unsupported enamel from the margin of a prepared cavity is a task that requires a cutting instrument with a sharp, narrow blade designed to plane away thin, brittle enamel without damaging underlying dentin. The enamel chisel fits this role perfectly. Its edge is specifically shaped to slice or pare away unwanted enamel along the cavosurface margin, producing a clean, supported margin and a slight bevel where needed. This helps prevent future marginal fracturing and ensures the restoration seats properly with a solid seal.

Other tools don’t perform this cutting action. A burnisher is used to smooth and polish surfaces and margins after preparation or placement of material, not to remove enamel. A right-angle probe is used mainly to explore and check margins or detect irregularities, not to cut enamel away. A flat plastic instrument is typically used for shaping or molding materials and for smoothing, not for trimming enamel.