Explorer & Sickles

Explorer

An assessment instrument with a flexible wire-like working end used to detect Subgingival calculus deposits and anatomic features.

Supragingival;Subgingival

_________ involves use of an instrument coronal to the gingival margin; _______ involved use of an instrument apical to the gingival margin.

Conducts vibrations to the clinicians fingers

What is the purpose of the flexible metal material that makes up the working end of an explorer?

Tip

The ____ is 1 to 2 mm of the side of the explorer and is adapted t the tooth for detection of calculus deposits.

lower

The ______ shank of an explorer is the section of the shank that is nearest to the explorer tip.

Pigtail/Cowhorn, Orban, and 11/12

What are the three types of explorer designs?

Pigtail/Cowhorn

A ________ Explorer is used for calculus detection in normal sulci or shallow pockets extending no deeper than the cervical-third of the root.

The curved lower shank causes considerable stretching of tissue away from the root surface.

What is a disadvantage of the pigtail/cowhorn explorer?

Orban Type

The ________ Explorer has a characteristic tip bent at 90 degrees to the straight lower shank. This explorer is used for Subgingival calculus detection n anterior root surfaces as well as facial and lingual root surfaces of posterior teeth.

Bent tip prevents another tip edge from being exposed to soft tissue and excellent for anterior teeth.

What are some advantages of the Orban-Type explorer?

11/12 Type

The _________ Explorer has a tip bent at 90 degrees to the long, complex lower shank.

Smooth back of tip in contact with soft tissue in sulcus and complex shank excellent for anterior AND posterior teeth.

What are some advantages of the 11/12 type explorer?

NONE! This explorer is ideal!

What are some disadvantages of the 11/12 type explorer?

Tactile Information

The fine working end and flexible shank of an explorer enhances _______ ________ to the clinicians fingers.

Assessment Stroke

Technique used to detect calculus deposits or other tooth surface irregularities; AKA the “exploratory stroke.”

Touch

During Subgingival instrumentation, the clinician relies on his/her sense of _____ to locate calculus deposits hidden beneath the gingival margin.

Tactile Sensitivity

The ability to detect tooth irregularities, such as calculus deposits, by feeling vibrations transferred from the to the instrument shank and handle

Short

Assessment strokes should be ____ in length and involve many overlapping strokes.

Wrapping

For selecting the correct working end in anterior teeth, the correct working ed survey inward toward the facial surface and is _______ the tooth surface.

Parallel

For selecting the correct working end in posterior teeth the lower shank should be ________ the distal surfaces of the tooth and the functional shank goes up and over the tooth.

Distal

When exploring a posterior sextant we always asses the _____ surface first. NO MATTER WHAT SIDE!

Near the line angle of posterior teeth and at the midline’s of anterior teeth.

What are common places where clinicans fail to detect calculus deposits?

Horizontal Strokes

What technique offers a solution for detecting commonly missed areas of calculus deposits like the line angles of posterior teeth and the midline’s of anterior teeth?

Failure to maintain neutral wrist position

What is the most common positioning error when working on maxillary posterior treatment areas?

Spicules

Feeling a gritty sensation as the explorer passes over a calculus deposit indicates what type of calculus formation?

Ledge

Feeling the tip move out and around a raised bump and return back to the surface when the explorer passes over a calculus deposit indicates what type of calculus formation?

Carious Lesion

Feeling the explorer tip dip in to a rough depression indicates what on the tooth surface?

Cavitated

A _______ lesion involves loss of the outer surface of the crown or root, usually needing restoration.

Noncavitated

A _______ lesion involves demineralization of an area o the tooth surface and is usually reversible or arrested with treatment.

Unreliable, firm pressure may damage surface, may interfere with remineralization.

What are some disadvantages of using an explorer for caries detection?

Sickle Scaler

A periodontal instrument used to remove medium-to-large size supragingival calculus deposits from the crowns of the teeth.

SHOULD NOT BE USED ON ROOT SURFACES

Triangular

Sickle Scalers are ______ in cross section, with two cutting edges per working end.

Perpendicular

The face of the sickle scaler is _________ to the lower shank.

Anterior

________ sickles are often single ended; may have tow different sickles on a double ended instrument.

Posterior

________ sickles usually have two sickles paired on a double ended instrument; working ends are mirror images.

70 to 80 degrees

Correct angulation of the sickle scaler is achieved by tilting the lower shank toward the tooth surface. This creates a face-to-tooth surface angulation of ___to___ degrees

All surfaces toward then all surface away.

The correct sequence for working with sickle scalers in a sextant is…?

*This is really just important for anteriors.*

Smaller size and rougher enamel surfaces/CEJ

Why do primary teeth present challenges for instrumentation with sickle scalers?