Design and Care of Dental Hygiene Instruments Flashcards
Types of stainless steel available for hand instruments
Stainless steel does not corrode or rust
- Austenitic.
- Martensitic.
- Ferritic.
Austenitic
- Hypodermic needles.
- Probe.
Martensitic
- Cutting instruments.
- Scalers.
Ferritic
- For bulk.
- Handles.
Most and instruments are made from steels containing chrome. Disadvantages?
- Do not maintain a good cutting edge.
- Need constant sharpening.
What can be used for instruments instead of steels?
Tungsten carbide tips.
- Hard compound.
- Stays sharp for a long time.
- Should not be used on enamel.
Why do we need instruments for implant care?
To not scratch or damage the titanium abutments.
Anatomy of dental instruments
- Handle - To grasp the instrument.
- Shank - Connects handle to working end. Allows adaptation of the working end to the tooth surface.
- Working end
Factors to consider when selecting instrument handles
- Weight
- Diameter
- Serration
Instrument weight
- Hollow handles increase tactile sensation and reduce fatigue.
- Silicone handles are lightweight and improve grasp.
Instrument diameter
- Large handles maximise control and encourage a lighter grasp.
- Smaller handles increases muscle fatigue.
Instrument serration
- Knurled and silicone handles provide a gripping surface.
- Enhances control.
Instrument shank
- Functional shank - From working end to handle
- Terminal shank - Between working end and first bend. Used to adapt the instrument to the tooth.
Working end
- Back.
- Lateral surface.
- Face.
- Heel.
- Tip (pointy) or toe (rounded).
- 1st third is the tip/toe.
- Middle third.
- 3rd third is the heel.
Instrument design features
- Single ended.
- Double ended - Fewer instruments needed. Saves times and less sterilisation. Need to be careful to not injure operator or patient when turning the instrument.
- Balanced.
Mirror uses
- Indirect vision.
- Indirect illumination.
- Transillumination.
- Retraction of soft tissues.
How to use mirror
- Avoid hitting teeth.
- Avoid galvanic shock with amalgam restorations.
- Prevent fogging by ringing with warm water or wipe along buccal mucosa.
Probe uses
- Screening.
- Assessment.
- Monitoring.
- Recording indices.
- Guide to treatment.
- Evaluation of treatment.
Screening
- Generalised picture of periodontal condition.
- WHO probe (BPE)
Assessment
Assess periodontal status for preparation of a treatment plan.
Monitoring
- Accurate measuring of disease and health.
- Hu-Friedy probe.
- Williams probe.
Recording indices
- Bleeding.
- Plaque.
- Pocket depth.
- Furcations.
Hu-Friedy 15 measurements
Measures probing depths.
Black lines:
- 4.5
- 9.10
- 14.15
WHO probe measurements
Screening periodontal disease.
- 0.5
- 3.5
- 5.5
- 8.5
- 11.5
Williams probe
Measures probing depths.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Right angled sharp probe
Detection of caries.
Gross calculus probe
- Double ended probe.
- Detection of calculus.
ODU Calculus Explorer 11/12
- Detection of sub and supragingival calculus.
- Assess calculus, root surfaces, overhangs, carious lesions.
Tweezers
- Hold cotton wool rolls and finishing strips.
- Application of medicaments.
Excavators
- Removal of supragingival calculus.
- Occlusal, labial, lingual, palatal.
- Removal of caries from deep carious lesion.
Care of instruments
- Wear heavy duty gloves.
- Ultrasonic cleaner then rinse to remove debris.
- Sterilise.
- Store in aseptic conditions.
- Sharpen non tungsten carbide tips regularly.
