assessment instruments: perio probe, nabers probe, explorers)

One to two millimeters of the side of the explorer's working-end is known as the _____.

• Option A

  explorer tip

• Option B

  explorer face or back

• Option C

  explorer cutting edge

• Option D

  explorer terminal shank

Option A

explorer tip

In a periodontal pocket, the periodontal probe is inserted beneath the gingival margin until it contacts which of the following structures?

• Option A

  Dental calculus

• Option B

  Periodontal ligament fibers

• Option C

  Junctional epithelium

• Option D

  Alveolar bone

Option C

Junctional epithelium

With a correct explorer grasp, the grasp is light enough that a person could slide it out from a clinician's hand. The flexible shank of an explorer does not contribute much to tactile sensitivity.

• Option A

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

• Option B

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

• Option C

  Both statements are false.

• Option D

  Both statements are true.

Option A

The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

Explorers are made of strong, rigid metal that does not bend easily. Explorers are circular in cross section.

• Option A

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

• Option B

  Both statements are true.

• Option C

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

• Option D

  Both statements are false.

Option A

The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

The side of the probe tip should be kept in contact with the tooth surface. The probe should be positioned parallel to the long axis of the tooth.

• Option A

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

• Option B

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

• Option C

  Both statements are true.

• Option D

  Both statements are false.

Option C

Both statements are true.

A furcation probe(Naber's)  has a curved, sharp working-end to reach into furcation areas. Maxillary molar teeth are usually trifurcated, including a palatal root.

• Option A

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

• Option B

  Both statements are true.

• Option C

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

• Option D

  Both statements are false.

Option C

The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

During an assessment stroke with an explorer:

• Option A

  Wrist and/or digital activation is acceptable

• Option B

  Only use vertical strokes to assess the tooth surface

• Option C

  A tight grasp will provide instrument control

• Option D

  Only use wrist activation

Option A

Wrist and/or digital activation is acceptable

To probe all aspects of a tooth correctly, you should:

• Option A

  Divide the tooth into six zones

• Option B

  Divide the tooth into four zones

• Option C

  Start at the midline of the facial aspect of anterior teeth

• Option D

  Start at the midline of the facial aspect of posterior teeth

Option A

Divide the tooth into six zones

Gordon wants to select the correct working-end of an explorer for use on a molar. Which of the visual clues should he use?

• Option A

  Functional shank down and around the tooth

• Option B

  Posterior = parallel

• Option C

  Both posterior = parallel and functional shank up and over the tooth

• Option D

  Functional shank up and over the tooth

Option C

Both posterior = parallel and functional shank up and over the tooth

Mary consistently fails to detect calculus deposits no matter where the deposits are located. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

• Option A

  Not resting her middle finger lightly on the instrument shank

• Option B

  Not inserting the working-end to the junctional epithelium

• Option C

  Not overlapping her assessment strokes at the line angles and midlines

• Option D

  Not extending strokes apical to the contact area

Option A

Not resting her middle finger lightly on the instrument shank

Which of the following is not a function of explorers?

• Option A

  Assess sealant retention

• Option B

  Examine occlusal surfaces for dental caries

• Option C

  Detect calculus deposits

• Option D

  Detect the texture of tooth surfaces

Option B

Examine occlusal surfaces for dental caries

Igor is recording probing depth measurements on a periodontal chart. How many measurements should he record for each tooth?

• Option A

  Ten

• Option B

  Three

• Option C

  Five

• Option D

  Six

Option D

Six

When using an 11/12-type explorer on maxillary anterior teeth, the correct working-end:

• Option A

  Both B and C

• Option B

  Curves toward the tooth surface

• Option C

  Is perpendicular to the distofacial surface

• Option D

  Curves outward away from the tissue

Option B

Curves toward the tooth surface

(1) The explorer provides the most tactile information to the clinician's fingers. (2) During calculus removal, the curet is used for calculus detection until all deposits that are detectable with the curet have been removed.

• Option A

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

• Option B

  Both statements are false.

• Option C

  Both statements are true.

• Option D

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

Option C

Both statements are true.

Corbin has walked a periodontal probe across the mesial surface until it touched the contact area. What should Corbin do next?

• Option A

  Remove the probe from the sulcus and reposition at the distofacial line angle.

• Option B

  Remove the probe from the sulcus and insert it at the line angle of the adjacent premolar tooth.

• Option C

  Remove the probe from the sulcus and reposition at the mesiofacial line angle.

• Option D

  Slant the probe slightly and gently press downward to assess beneath the contact area.

Option D

Slant the probe slightly and gently press downward to assess beneath the contact area.

When using a periodontal probe, it is necessary to probe three places on the facial site  of a molar tooth only. Only these three measurements are needed because the base of the sulcus is uniform across the entire facial site.

• Option A

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

• Option B

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

• Option C

  Both statements are false.

• Option D

  Both statements are true.

Option C

Both statements are false.

During your assessment stroke with an explorer you would:

• Option A

  Hold the instrument tightly so you can feel the surface better

• Option B

  Use the explorer point for greater tactile sensitivity

• Option C

  Overlap many strokes in multidirections

• Option D

  Lift out of the sulcus with each stroke to be sure you are using the  tip

Option C

Overlap many strokes in multidirections

The probe should be removed from the sulcus after each measurement and reinserted for the next measurement. The probe is used with walking strokes that are only about 1 mm apart.

• Option A

  Both statements are false.

• Option B

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

• Option C

  Both statements are true.

• Option D

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

Option D

The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

Rolling the handle of the explorer at the line angle of a tooth helps to:

• Option A

  Reduces the chance of leaving residual calculus

• Option B

  Keep the tip of the explorer against the tooth surface

• Option C

  Keep the explorer at the base of the sulcus

• Option D

  Maintain correct adaptation of the explorer

Option D

Maintain correct adaptation of the explorer

The periodontal probe should be removed from the sulcus after each measurement. The pressure of the probe tip against the junctional epithelium should be between 10 and 20 g.

• Option A

  Both statements are false.

• Option B

  Both statements are true.

• Option C

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

• Option D

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

Option C

The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

Where should probing begin on the lingual site of the mandibular left first molar?

• Option A

  Direct distal

• Option B

  Mesiolingual line angle

• Option C

  Midlingual

• Option D

  Distolingual line angle

Option D

Distolingual line angle

Where should probing begin on the facial site of the mandibular right first molar?

• Option A

  Midfacial

• Option B

  Mesiofacial line angle

• Option C

  Distofacial line angle

• Option D

  Distal

Option C

Distofacial line angle

The use of a sharp explorer to diagnose caries in pits and fissures is no longer recommended. Penetration by a sharp explorer can actually cause cavitation.

• Option A

  The first statement is false; the second statement is true.

• Option B

  Both statements are true.

• Option C

  The first statement is true; the second statement is false.

• Option D

  Both statements are false.

Option B

Both statements are true.

Since only light pressure is used when probing, _____ activation may be used.

• Option A

  hand pivot

• Option B

  either wrist or digital

• Option C

  digital

• Option D

  wrist

Option B

either wrist or digital

When using an 11/12-type explorer on mandibular anterior teeth, the correct working-end:

• Option A

  Is perpendicular to the distofacial surface

• Option B

  Both B and C

• Option C

  Curves outward away from the tissue

• Option D

  Curves toward the tooth surface

Option D

Curves toward the tooth surface

Which of the following teeth does not have a furcation?

• Option A

  Mandibular second premolar

• Option B

  Maxillary first molar

• Option C

  Mandibular first molar

• Option D

  Maxillary first premolar

Option A

Mandibular second premolar

John consistently fails to detect calculus deposits at the line angles of posterior teeth. Which of the following is the most likely cause?

• Option A

  Using an inappropriate explorer for calculus detection

• Option B

  Middle finger resting lightly on the instrument shank

• Option C

  Not using horizontal strokes to assess the line angle area

• Option D

  Using a relaxed grasp during assessment strokes

Option C

Not using horizontal strokes to assess the line angle area

The clinician knows when the probe tip touches the base of the sulcus because the tissue feels _____.

• Option A

  soft but resilient

• Option B

  unyielding like concrete

• Option C

  semisolid wood

• Option D

  the consistency of jelly

Option A

soft but resilient

Danielle is recording probing depths. She is measuring the distance in millimeters from the _____.

• Option A

  cementoenamel junction to the periodontal ligament

• Option B

  cementoenamel junction to the base of the sulcus or pocket

• Option C

  gingival margin to the periodontal ligament

• Option D

  gingival margin to the base of the sulcus or pocket

Option D

gingival margin to the base of the sulcus or pocket

Upon examining a furcation, which would be the correct position of the lower (terminal) shank of a furcation probe against the tooth surface?

• Option A

  Diagonally across the tooth surface

• Option B

  Parallel to the tooth surface

• Option C

  Perpendicular to the tooth surface

• Option D

  It doesn't matter as long as the tip is pointed in the furcation

Option B

Parallel to the tooth surface