Sickle Scalers

Question 1

What are sickle scalers?

Answer 1

Periodontal instrument used to remove calculus deposits from the crowns of teeth

Removal of medium to large sized supragingival calculus deposits. Should NOT be used in root surfaces

Question 2

Unique design characteristics of sickle scalers

Answer 2

Pointed tip and back, triangular and cross section, to cutting edges per working end

Face is perpendicular to the lower shank

Face of the working and is that a 90° angle to the lower shank

Question 3

Describe anterior sickles

Answer 3

Can be single ended; may have two different sickles on a double ended instrument

Question 4

Describe posterior sickles

Answer 4

Usually two sickles paired on a double ended instrument; working ends are mirror images

Question 5

Ideal angle of instrument face to tooth angulation

Answer 5

60 to 80°

Question 6

How is correct angulation achieved?

Answer 6

By tilting the lower shank towards the tooth surface creating an angulation of 60 to 80°

Question 7

Where do we begin scaling on anterior teeth?

Answer 7

Begin at the midline of the tooth and work towards the proximal surface

Tip third of the working and should be positioned at the midline of the tooth. Till the lower shank toward the tooth surface to establish correct angulation

Question 8

How should the scaler move across the tooth?

Answer 8

Make strokes across the facial surface toward the mesial surface. At the line angle roll the instrument handle to maintain adaptation of the tip third of the working end

Question 9

Sickles are not meant to go sub gingival. What is the grace distance for a sickle to go under the gingival margin?

Answer 9

1 mm

Question 10

Method one for choosing the correct working end of a posterior sickle scaler

Answer 10

Lower shank as visual clue.

Place working and in the get ready zone of the distal. Should be parallel to the distal surface. Functional shank goes up and over the tooth. Should not be down and around the tooth

Question 11

Memory aid for lower shank as visual clue

Answer 11

Posterior= parallel

Functional shank should be up and over

Question 12

Method two for identifying correct working end of posterior sickle scaler

Answer 12

Inner and outer cutting edges

Hold the instrument so that you were looking at the face. Determine which cutting edge is closer to the handle.

Inner= closer to handle
Outer= farther from handle

Question 13

What are the inner cutting edges used for?

Answer 13

Used on distal surfaces

Question 14

What are the outer cutting edges used for?

Answer 14

Used on facial, lingual, and mesial services

Question 15

Memory aid for inner and outer cutting edge method

Answer 15

Think “I start in on the distal surface, then move out to the facial in mesial“

Question 16

Correct sequence for scaling posterior teeth

Answer 16

Select working end
Start at distofacial line angle and work backward into distal surface
Tilt lower shank toward the tooth surface
Turn scaler at Distofacial line angle forward for the facial and mesial surfaces
Make strokes across facial surface and roll at line angle, tilting toward mesial surface