Grasp, Fulcrum, Periodontal Instruments, & Periodontal Probing Flashcards
What is the modified pen grasp?
- Grasp for holding periodontal instruments
- Allows precise control of the working-end
- Permits a wide range of movement
- Facilitates good tactile conduction
How do you do the modified pen grasp?
- Thumb and index finger hold the instrument
- Middle finger stabilizes
- Ring finer used to fulcrum (hinge/pivot)
- Thumb is used to roll the instrument
- Fingers maintain contact and work together to adapt the instrument
- Movement is in the wrist
Where is the index and thumb for the modified pen grasp?
on the instrument handle
Where is the middle finger for the modified pen grasp?
rests lightly on the shank
Where is the ring finger for the modified pen grasp?
on oral structure; often a tooth surface
Where is the pinky for the modified pen grasp?
near ring finger, held in a relaxed manner
What is the function of the index and thumb for the modified pen grasp?
holds the instrument
What is the function of the middle finger for the modified pen grasp?
- helps to guide the working-end
- feels vibrations transmitted from the working-end to the shank
What is the function of the ring finger for the modified pen grasp?
stablilizes the hand for control and strength
What is the function of the pinky finger for the modified pen grasp?
no function
What is a fulcrum?
Stabilizing point for clinician’s hand during instrumentation
What are the 3 types of fulcrums?
Intraoral fulcrum
Extraoral fulcrum
Advanced fulcrum
What type of fulcrum provides best stability for the clinician’s hand?
Intraoral fulcrum
What does the intraoral fulcrum allow?
- provide best stability for the clinician’s hand
- decreases the likelihood of injury to the patient or clinician
- provides the best leverage and strength during instrumentation
What is an intraoral fulcrum?
- A stabilizing point inside the patient’s mouth against a tooth surface
What is an extraoral fulcrum?
- A stabilizing point outside the patient’s mouth (e.g., against the patient’s chin or cheek)
What is the handle of the instrument?
used for holding the instrument
What is the shank of the instrument?
rod-shaped length of metal located between the handle and working-end of an instrument
What is the working-end of the instrument?
the part of the instrument that does the work of the instrument
What is the functional shank?
the part of the shank that allows the working-end to be adapted to the tooth surface; begins below the working-end and extends to the last bend in the shank nearest the handle
What is the terminal shank?
the portion of the functional shank nearest to the working-end
What is a simple shank?
- A shank that is bent in one plane (front-to-back)
- Simple shank=straight shank
- Used primarily on anterior teeth
What type of shank is primarily used on anterior teeth?
simple
What is a complex shank?
- A shank that has been bent in two planes (front-to-back and side-to-side)
- Complex shank=angled/curved shank
- Used on posterior teeth
What type of shank is primarily used on posterior teeth?
complex shank
How do you determine if the shank is simple or complex?
- Hold the instrument so that the working-end toe is facing you
Instrument A, when viewed from the front appears to be straight, therefore, simple shank design
Instrument B, when viewed from the front appears to be bent from side-to-side, therefore this instrument has a complex design
What type of shank is this?
simple
What type of shank is this?
complex
The function of an instrument is determined, primarily, by the design of the…
working-end
What are the 2 main types of periodontal hand instruments?
Sickle Scalers
Curettes
What does a sickle scaler look like?
Triangular cross-section of the blade
What type of scaling do you do with a sickle scaler?
Supragingival scaling
How many cutting-edges does a sickle scaler have?
2 cutting edges
What is the shape of a curette?
Rounded cross-section of the blade