When the bones are still in the ground, paleontologists use large tools, like hammers, picks and shovels to remove overburden (the rock that covers the fossil) at the dig site. But the rock that's closest to the fossil must be removed more carefully with smaller hand tools, like these.

If these look like tools you've seen at your dentist's office, then you're right! Paleontologists use the same tools to clean dinosaur bones as your dentist uses to clean your teeth.

Your dentist uses these tools — called scalers — to scrape tartar off your teeth, but paleontologists use these tools in the lab to scrape away the rock that's closest to the fossil..

« previous 2 of 2