DHYG 157 - Finger rests in Mandibular and Maxillary Posterior Sextants

Building blocks for posterior Sextants

While practicing fulcrums follow sequence of: Me, My patient, My Equipment, My Nondominant hand, My Dominant hand, and finger rest

Assume clock position

- Assume the recommended clock position for the treatment area

Grasp and Place mirror

- Grasp mirror

- Place the mirror head in a "Frisbee-position" between dental arches

Turn, Rest, and Retract

- Turn mirror until it is parallel to the buccal mucosa of cheek

- Establish extraoral finger rest

- Use arm muscles to retract cheek

Handle position for MANDIBULAR Posterior Teeth

- Hand in PALM-DOWN position

- Handle rests against index finger in green shaded area

Posterior Aspect toward and away

Right handed clinician

-Sit at 9:00 for posterior aspect facing TOWARD you

- Sit at 10:00- 11:00 for posterior aspect FACING AWAY from you

Handle Position for MAXILLARY Posterior Sextant

- Hand in PALM -UP position

- Handle rests against the index finger in green shaded area

Clock positions - surfaces toward me

for maxillary posterior toward you

- Right handed: clock position at 9:00

Clock positions: surfaces away from me for posterior

-Right handed: clock position at 10-11

Summary:

-An intraoral fulcrum improves precise instrumentation strokes, prevents sudden movements that could injure that patient, and reduces muscle load to the clinician's hand.