Chairside Assisting/Instruments Flashcards
What is Class I Movement?
Movement of the fingers only
What is Class II Movement?
Movement of the fingers and wrist
What is Class III Movement?
Movement of fingers, wrist, and elbow
What is Class IV Movement?
Use of the entire arm and shoulder
What is Class V Movement?
Use of entire upper torso
What is the operator’s zone?
the area where the person who completes the procedure is seated
What is the transfer zone?
the area where instruments and dental materials are exchanged between the dental assistant and the dentist
What is the assistant’s zone?
where the dental assistant is positioned
Which zone is the assistant’s mobile cabinet or rear delivery countertop located in?
The assistant’s zone
What is the static zone? What does it hold?
located directly behind the patient, holds equipment
Which hand does the dental assistant use for transfering materials, handpieces, and instruments?
the left hand
What does the assistant’s right hand do?
kept free to suction and to ready the next transfer of materials
What classifications of movement are used for the transfer of instruments?
Class I, II, and III
What is the position of use for the mandibular arch?
directing the working end of the instrument downward
What is the position of use for the maxillary arch?
directing the working end of the instrument upward
What are the three basic grasps?
pen, palm, palm-thumb
When transfering the mirror and explorer to the dentist, what hands should a right handed assistant use for each instrument?
Left - explorer
Right - mirror
What is a fulcrum?
A finger rest
What is the handle of an instrument?
where the operator grasps
What is the shank of the instrument?
where the working end is connected to th9e handle
What is the working end of the instrument?
the point of the instrument with a specific function
What do the 3 numbers of G.V. Black’s formula represent for hand cutting and scaling instruments?
- Blade’s Width
- Blade’s Length
- Angle
What order is the procedure tray set up? Why?
left to right, in sequence of how instruments are used in the procedure
since the assistant uses left hand to move materials, most frequently used instruments should be placed closer
What is the most used instruments?
examination instruments
What is the basic tray setup to be used for every procedure?
mouth mirror, the explorer, and cotton forceps
What is the order of instruments on the tray?
first, the basic tray
second, hand/manual cutting instruments
What is a rotary?
a part or device that rotates around an axis
When were rotary instruments introduced to dentistry>
1940s
When was the air-driven turbine handpiece introduced?
1950s
What is the speed of the low-speed handpiece?
10k-30k rpm
What 3 versions can the low-speed handpiece be adapted to?
straight handpiece attachment
contra-angle handpiece attachment
prophy attachment
What is the speed of a high-speed handpiece?
450k rpm
What method is used to hold a bur into a high-speed handpiece?
friction-grip
What is the use of a high-speed handpiece?
for most restorative procedures and endodontics, fixed prosthodontics, and oral surgery
What is the use of a low-speed handpiece?
laboratory, removal of soft decay, polishing. coronal polishing of teeth
What is the ultrasonic handpiece?
mechanical radiant energy of water and sound vibrations to create a pulsating effect on the tooth
What is the use of an ultrasonic handpiece?
used for scaling and root planing
What does the laser handpiece use to operate?
a fiber-optic cable that extends from the console to the handpiece
What is the use of a laser handpiece?
reshaping tissues, decay, teeth whitening
What is the main disadvantage of laser handpieces?
cannot be used on teeth with restorations already in place, and can take longer
What does the air abrasion handpiece use to operate?
aluminum oxide particles through a small probe?
What is the speed of a laboratory handpiece?
20k rpm
What is the most common cause of handpiece problems?
improper cleaning and lubrication
What are the three parts of a rotary cutting instrument?
shank, neck, and head
What are the 3 basic shank styles of a rotary instrument?
straight, latch-type, friction-grip
What is the straight shank?
the long, straight shank held in place by a locking mechanism in the low-speed handpiece
What is the latch-type shank?
has a small groove at the end that mechanically locks into the contra-angle attachment.
What is the friction-grip shank?
short and smooth, has no retention groove, held in the high-speed handpiece
What was the original material for burs, and what replaced it?
were made out of steel, switched to a tungsten carbide
What is the purpose of a round diamond bur?
to provide access to the pulp chamber
What is the purpose of a flat end taper diamond bur?
to reduce tooth structure during a crown prep
What is the purpose of a flame diamond bur
to reduce tooth structure in crown prep
What is the purpose of a wheel diamond bur
to make subgingival bevels in crown prep
What are the most common finishing burs?
round, tapered, or flame
Whats the difference between lab rotary vs dental burs?
laboratory burs are much larger
What is the most common bur in Laboratories?
acrylic burs
What are the two main oral evacuation systems?
Saliva ejector and High-Volume Evacuator (HVE)
What is the saliva ejector?
a small, straw shaped evacuator
When is a saliva ejector used?
during less-invasive dental procedures, to remove liquids, not solid
What is the shape of the saliva ejector’s tube in a stationary position?
candy cane
What is the purpose of the HVE?
remove saliva, blood, water, and debris
How is the HVE held?
thumb-to-nose or pen grasp
What is limited area rinsing?
performed frequently throughout procedure as debris accumulates, and for quick inspection
What is the full-mouth rinse used?
after a long procedure when the patient’s entire mouth needs freshening
What are the minimums and maximums for topical anesthetics?
min: 15-30
max: 60-120
What are the 2 groups for dental local anaesthetics?
amides and esters
What are amides?
maintain the standards by which all other local anesthetics are measured
metabolized by liver
What are esters?
used as topical anesthetics
metabolized by plasma
What are the three main ingredients of local anesthetic?
local anesthetic drug
sodium chloride
distilled water
What does “induction” mean in anesthetics?
length of time from injection of anesthetic to complete conduction blockage
What does “duration” mean in anesthetics?
length of time from induction until reversal process
What are the 3 categories of anesthetics, and how long do they last?
short- 30m
intermediate- 60m
long- 90m
What does a vasoconstrictor do in anesthetics?
agent that when combined with anesthetic slows down the uptake of an anesthetic agent into the bloodstream and increases the duration
What are the common ratios of vasoconstrictors to anesthetic?
1:20k
1:50k
1:100k
1:200k
What is local infiltration?
completed by injecting the anesthetic directly into the soft tissue area of the nerve endings
What does field block mean?
injecting near a larger terminal nerve branch affecting a larger surface of the operative field
What does nerve block mean?
when local anesthetic is injected close to a main nerve trunk
What are the 3 nerve blocks?
posterior superior alveolar
anterior superior alveolar
nasopalatine
How large is an injection needle?
1 or 1 5/8 inch
What is lumen?
the hollow section of a needle
What is gauge?
the thickness/size of a needle
How do you identify needle size based on gauge?
the larger the gauge, the thinner the needle
What is done by the dentist to ensure that local anesthetic is NOT injected in a blood vessel?
aspirate
What is paresthesia?
a condition where numbness lasts after the local anesthetic has worn off
What is inhalation sedation?
nitrous oxide/oxygen (N₂O/O₂) analgesia
How is N₂O/O₂ sedation administered, and how fast does it take effect?
It is administered through a nosepiece, and the effects are felt almost immediately.
What is the safest maximum allowable amount of N2O in the dental environment?
50 ppm
What color cylinder is N2O and O2?
N2O - blue
O2 - green
