A dental instrument includes a housing a first part with a circumferential wall and defining a hand-piece for holding, preferably by a single hand, a light source, electrical components for operating the light source, and a tip portion which supports a light guide that receives light from the light source. The housing has between the first part and the tip portion a second part with a circumferential wall having on a first side a first control element for fingertip operation and on a second side a second control element for fingertip operation, the first control element being located circumferentially opposite the second control element.
