Positioning for supragingival scaling Flashcards
What positioning do you sit at if scaling upper anterior teeth?
What is the position of the patient?
12 o’clock
Chin up, midline
What positioning do you sit at when scaling lower anterior teeth?
What position is the patient in?
12 o’clock
Chin down, facing straight up/middle
What position would you be in to scale the upper right posterior teeth for the:
a. Buccal surface?
b. Palatal surface?
How would you position your patient?
Buccal: 9 or 10 o’clock
Palatal: 10 or 11 o’clock (indirect)
a. Chin up and away from you
b. chin up and towards
What position would you be in to scale the upper left posterior teeth for the:
a. Buccal surface?
b. Palatal surface?
How would you position your patient?
10 o’clock for both
a. chin up and towards
b. Chin up and away from you
What position would you be in to scale the lower right posterior teeth for the:
a. Buccal surface?
b. Lingual surface?
How would you position your patient? For buccal and lingual
Buccal: 9 or 10 o’clock Down & away
Lingual: 10 or 11 o’clock (direct) Down & towards
What position would you be in to scale the lower left posterior teeth for the:
a. Buccal surface?
b. Lingual surface?
How would you position your patient? For buccal and lingual
Buccal: 10 o’clock Chin down and towards
Lingual:10 o’clock (direct) Chin down & away
Where should your finger rest be?
On an ADJACENT tooth
NOT the same tooth that you’re scaling!!!!
How does pregnancy affect oral health?
Change/fluctuation in hormones (progesterone and oestrogen)
Progesterone = increased gingival blood flow
Increased gingival response to plaque = increased inflammation = increased risk of periodontal disease
Usually improves in months following delivery
How may smoking affect a patient’s periodontal health?
Vasoconstrictor - masks gingivitis.
More likely to develop perio, experience greater bone loss, develop perio pockets, lose teeth. Do not respond as well to treatment.
• Smoking lowers the host response to inflammation thus increasing the disease
susceptibility.
• Lowered T lymphocytes, antibody and IgG production.
• There is reduced ability for neutrophil chemotaxis and phagocytosis.
How is diabetes relevant to periodontal health?
Uncontrolled sugar levels can damage blood vessels in gums = more likely to get infection = impaired blood flow
Impaired immune response = impaired wound healing = recurrent/multiple periodontal abscesses
Poorly controlled blood glucose can lead to increased glucose in saliva = feeds bacteria and increases formation of dental plaque
Give 3 examples of drugs that may lead to gingival enlargement
Amlodipine (calcium channel blockers)
Phenytoin (epilepsy)
Cyclosporin (immunosuppressant, can be prescribed for autoimmune disorders)
What factors are important when considering the positioning of the operator? (9)
- weight evenly balanced
- thighs parallel to the floor
- Hips at 90 degree angle
- feet flat on the floor
- legs apart and form solid triangular base
- patient’s mouth level with operator’s waist
- lower arm right angle to upper arm
- forearms parallel to floor
- back supported
