First there's the basic Mirror, explorer, and cotton pliers. Then you have the hand cutting instruments; the excavator, hatchet, [and gingival margin trimmer if the restoration is a class II]. Then you move on to the restorative instruments which includes the amalgam carrier and condenser, the acorn burnisher, carver, and finally the t-ball burnisher. You also should include the accessory materials [gauges, cotton rolls, articulating paper]

This is the basic set up taught in Dental schools. In most situations, the dentist has his special set up that you have to learn.