Periodontal Explorers Flashcards
periodontal explorer working end:
thin, wiry working-end
perio explorer bends and curves in the shank to
adapt to subgingival root surfaces
explorer handle
hollow to allow for tactile sensitivity
used to detect:
used to detect subgingival calculus and tooth irregularities
-allows us to assess the amount of calculus prior to removal
if you cannot detect calculus, you
cannot remove it
clinician’s ability to feel vibration transmitted from the instrument working-end with their fingers as they rest on the shank and handle
tactile sensitivity
explorer instrument activation:
- grasp using modified pen grasp
- light grasp to increase ability to feel vibrations
- roll instrument between thumb and forefinger to keep tip adapted
determine correct working-end by instrument curving toward:
if the tip of instrument bows toward you, you have the:
mesial of tooth
the incorrect end
once correct end is determined for posterior, “offset” instrument toward
distal surface
DO NOT FLIP INSTRUMENT, JUST ROTATE
explorer activation:
- walk short, overlapping strokes all the way into interproximal
- terminal shank should be parallel to long axis of tooth IN POSTERIOR TEETH
- re-adapt= instrument so it is curved toward the mesial
- begin at distal line angle *be sure to overlap
- continue across facial (or lingual) surface using short, overlapping strokes
terminal shank should be ____to long axis of tooth
parallel
IN POSTERIOR TEETH
exploring anterior sextants
left-handed
surfaces toward:
surfaces away:
surfaces toward: 4:00
surfaces away: 1:00
post office
abrocrombie and fitch
posterior offset
anterior flip
with anteriors, you begin at:
handle is ___ to long axis
_____overlapping strokes into interproximal
midline
parallel
short overlapping strokes
in anterior teeth, ____instrument to do opposite surfaces of teeth
flip
