Hand instruments Flashcards
What are the four specific parts that most dental instruments have?
Handle
Shank
Terminal shank
Working end
What are the types of handles?
Round
Tapered
Hexagonal
What joins the working end of the instrument with the handle?
The shank
What determines the teeth that the instrument will be able to access?
The length and curvature of the shank
What is the part of the shank that is closest to the working end?
The terminal shank
What is the portion of the instrument that comes in contact with the tooth?
The working end
What two instruments are grouped together because they are usually manufactured as double-ended instruments but are actually two different types of instruments?
Explorers and periodontal probes
Explorers are used to detect what?
Plaque and calculus
Explore cavities
Check for exposed pulp chambers
What feature of the explorer increases the operator’s tactile sensitivity?
The design
What is the most commonly found explorer?
The shepherd’s hook or crook
What instrument is the shepherd’s hook manufactured in combination with?
Periodontal probe
What part of the pigtail explorer allows the operator to use the tip of the instrument and thereby avoid touching with the side of the instruments those parts of the tooth that are not being explored?
The curved shape
Pigtail explorers usually come as what, allowing for a greater range of exploration?
Hooked to the right on one end and to the left on the other
How does the pigtail explorer function?
By gliding along the tooth surface in search of irregularities and magnifies the user’s tactile sense
What are the three major notches on the notched periodontal probe?
5, 10, and 15 mm
There are intermediate notches on the notched probe, which notches are skipped?
4, 9 and 14
Periodontal probes are available in 18 mm lengths. What does each band represent?
3 mm
What allow for quick removal of large pieces of calculus?
The calculus removal forceps
The calculus removal forcep has tips of different lengths and shapes. Which is placed over the crown and which is placed over the calculus?
The longer tip is placed over the crown
The shorter tip is placed under the calculus
When using the calculus removal forceps, the technician or practitioner must be careful not to damage what?
The enamel surface or the gingiva
Describe the sides of the scalers?
Three sharp sides and a sharp tip
Scalers are particularly useful in removing what?
Calculus from narrow but deep fissures such as those located on the buccal surface of the fourth premolar
Scalers are used for what only?
Supragingival scaling
Can scalers damage the gingiva and periodontal ligament?
Yes
What are the three parts of the scaler?
The tip
The face (flat side)
The cutting edge
What must the scaler be if it is to be effective?
Sharpened regularly
What is the most commonly used scaler?
The sickle scaler
What is the fine scaler, used for extremely small teeth, known as?
Morris 0-00
What instrument has two sharp sides and a round toe?
Curettes
What are curettes used for?
To remove calculus both supragingivally and subgingivally
How are curettes designed?
So that each end is a mirror image of the opposite end
What are the two types of curettes?
The universal curette
Area-specific curette
Which curette can be adapted to almost all dental surfaces?
The universal curette
Which curette is adaptable to different areas of the mouth?
The area-specific curette
Example: Gracey curette
What is a general rule followed when using curettes?
The higher the number of the instrument, the farther back in the mouth it is used
The point of the curette is called what and what does it look like?
The Toe
Rounded
Sterilization reduces what?
The risks of cross-infection among patients and from patients to staff members
