Explorers

Question 1

Basic instruments for examination

Answer 1

Mouth mirror
Sub gingival explorer
Problems: furcation probe, plastic probe

Question 2

General purposes and uses of explorers

Answer 2

Detect by tactile since the texture and character of the tooth surface

Defined the extent of instrumentation needed and guide techniques

Evaluate the completeness of treatment

Question 3

Use of sub gingival explorers

Answer 3

Use is facilitated by an angulated shank with a short tip

Question 4

Features for sub gingival examination

Answer 4

• Back of tip can be applied directly to the base of the pocket without trauma or laceration
• Short tip can be adapted to rounded tooth surfaces and line angles
• Narrow short tip can be adapted at the base where the pocket narrows without undue displacement of the pocket soft tissue wall

Question 5

Shepherd hook explorer

Answer 5

Used for examining pits and fishers and supragingival smooth surfaces

Also used an examining surfaces and margins of restorations and sealants

Question 6

Pigtail or cowhorn

Answer 6

Used on proximal surfaces for calculus, dental caries or margins of restorations in normal shallow pockets

As paired, curved tips, they are applied to opposite tooth surfaces

Question 7

Disadvantages of pigtail and cowhorn explorers

Answer 7

Curved lower shank causes stretching of the tissue away from the root surface

Question 8

Orban type explorer design

Answer 8

Tip is bent at 90° to the lower shank, lower shank is straight

Advantages: sub gingival calculus detection on anterior root surfaces
- sub gingival calculus detection on facial and lingual root surfaces of posterior teeth

Disadvantages: straight shank, difficult to use on the line angles, mesial and distal services of posterior teeth

Question 9

11/12 Type explorer design

Answer 9

Excellent for anterior and posterior teeth

Smooth the back of tip is in contact with soft tissue base of sulcus or pocket

Complex shank makes it easy to reach root surfaces of anterior and posterior teeth

Question 10

Tooth surface irregularities: 3 Basic tactile sensations

Answer 10

• normal tooth surface
• irregularities created by excess or elevations in the surface
• irregularities caused by depression in the tooth surface

Question 11

Normal tooth surface

Answer 11

• Root and enamel surface are smooth

- Restored surface margins are smooth. Smooth surface of metal versus the feeling of composite

Question 12

Irregularities: elevations on tooth surface

Answer 12

Calculus deposits, enamel pearl, over contoured and irregular margins on restorations

Question 13

Irregularities: depression and grooves

Answer 13

Demineralized or Karius lesion, abrasion, erosion, pits such as those caused by enamel hypoplasia, areas of Simental resorption on the root surface

Deficient margin or rough surface on restorations

Question 14

What is an assessment stroke

Answer 14

Used to detect calculus deposits or other tooth surface irregularities

“ exploratory stroke”

Question 15

What is tactile sensitivity

Answer 15

Ability to detect tooth irregularities, such as calculus deposits, my feeling vibrations transferred from the explorer tip to the instrument shank and handle

Question 16

Errors in exploring

Answer 16

• Avoid a firm, tense, death grip
• Avoid applying pressure with the middle finger against the shank
• These errors reduce tactile information to the fingers
• Do not remove explorer from the sulcus or pocket as you make an upward stroke. Keep tip beneath gingival margin

Question 17

Good technique

Answer 17

Keep tip in contact with route surface as you move across the tooth

Keep strokes short

Make a mini overlapping, multi directional strokes to assess the entire root surface

Question 18

Steps for exploring anterior teeth

Answer 18

1- place working end and get ready zone in middle third of crown
2-slide tip along tooth surface and gently insert beneath gingival margin. Make series of feather light strokes across facial surface
3- Roll instrument handle as you approach the mesiofacial line angle
4- Explore mesial service

Question 19

Selecting the correct working end

Answer 19

Tip is at 90° angle to lower shank. Only the terminal 2 mm of the side tip is adapted to the tooth surface

Working and curves inward toward the facial surface, wraps around facial surface

Question 20

Incorrect working end

Answer 20

Curves outward away from facial surface

Question 21

Identifying the correct working end for exploring posterior teeth

Answer 21

Use premolar. Observe relationship of lower shank to the distal surface. Lower shank is parallel to distal surface, functional shank goes up and over the tooth

Question 22

Posterior tooth surface sequence

Answer 22

• Start at the distofacial line and work backward to the distal surface
• Gently insert beneath gingival margin and make feather light strokes toward distal surface
• Roll instrument handle as you approach distal surface. Explore distal surface then flip tool and begin exploration toward mesial surface , Rolling instrument handle as you approach me see your facial line angle

Question 23

Identification of supragingival deposits

Answer 23

Located coronal to gingival margin

Question 24

Identification of sub gingival deposits

Answer 24

Hidden beneath gingival margin. Built up layer by layer slowly over time

Question 25

Common types of calculus formations

Answer 25

Spicules
Ledge
Ring
Veneer

Question 26

What will your fingers Feel under normal conditions?

Answer 26

Do not feel any interruptions in path of the explorer

Question 27

Spicules

Answer 27

Small calculus deposits

You will feel a gritty sensation as explorer passes over small calculus deposit

Question 28

Large ledge of calculus

Answer 28

You will feel the tip move out and around the raised bumps and returned back to the tooth surface

Question 29

Overhanging restoration

Answer 29

Explorer must move away from the tooth and over the restoration

Question 30

Deficient margin on restoration

Answer 30

Explorer dips in to trace the restoration

Question 31

Carious lesion

Answer 31

Explorer tip dips into a rough depression

Question 32

Using compressed air for Calculus detection

Answer 32

Use compressed air for visual inspection. When dried, supragingival calculus appears rough and chalky