Dh 104 - Explorers

Front 1

What is the use of a dental explorer?

Back 1

Tactile detection of the texture and character of tooth surfaces

Front 2

What are some things that the explorer will help identify?

Back 2

calculus, decalcification, caries, sealants, dental restorations, dental anomalies, anatomic features

Front 3

When should an explorer be used during an appointment?

Back 3

before, during, and after periodontal assessment for instrumentation

Front 4

An explorer is used to confirm what kind of observation?

Back 4

direct

Front 5

Do not use an explorer on what?

Back 5

areas that may be remineralizing, like caries

Front 6

What does an explorer help define?

Back 6

the extent of instrumentation needed and to guide techniques for procedures such as SRP and removing an overhanging filling.

Front 7

What does an explorer help evaluate?

Back 7

the completeness of a treatment by confirming smooth surfaces in scaling procedures and in fixing a filling

Front 8

What are the 3 main parts of an explorer?

Back 8

The working end, shank, and handle

Front 9

Describe the working end

Back 9

slender, wire-like, metal tip that is circular in cross section and tapers to a fine sharp point.

Front 10

How is an explorer designed to achieve balance?

Back 10

the middle of the working end is centered over the long axis of the handle

Front 11

What are three types of shanks available?

Back 11

straight, curved, angulated

Front 12

What might a curved shank facilitate?

Back 12

the application of the instrument to proximal surfaces, particularly of posterior teeth

Front 13

Flexibility of the shank

Back 13

contributes to increased tactile sensitivity for the clinician

Front 14

In a handle, what kind of weight is most effective for increased sensitivity?

Back 14

lightweight

Front 15

What kind of handle design helps grasp and preventing cramping?

Back 15

A wide diameter handle with serrations

Front 16

What kind of grasp lends to tactile sensitivity?

Back 16

a light grasp

Front 17

Define a single-ended construction

Back 17

one working end on a separate handle

Front 18

Define a double-ended construction

Back 18

two working ends, one on each end of a common handle. They can be the same (paired) or different (unpaired) instrument heads.

Front 19

Is the shepherds hook (sickle) paired or unpaired?

Back 19

unpaired

Front 20

What must regularly be done to an explorer's tip?

Back 20

sharpening and retapering

Front 21

What will a sharp tip allow for?

Back 21

Increased tactile sensitivity /w less pressure required

Prevent unnecessary trauma to gingival tissue

Decreases instrumentation time because patient will be more comfortable

Front 22

Using less pressure allows for what kind of control?

Back 22

greater control

Front 23

Define the shape of a subgingival explorer

Back 23

Angled shank, short tip (less than 2mm)

a longer tip cannot be adapted to the line angles of narrow roots

Front 24

a narrow short tip can be adapted without undue displacement of the pockets soft tissue walls. True or false?

Back 24

false

Front 25

What is the use of a shepherds hook (sickle)?

Back 25

examining pits and fissures and supra gingival smooth surfaces; examine surfaces and margins of restorations and sealants

Front 26

What is the shepherds hook not recommended for?

Back 26

proximal surfaces

subgingival

Front 27

What is the pig tail used for?

Back 27

proximal surfaces for calculus, dental caries, or margins of restorations

Front 28

What is the objective of practicing exploring techniques and adaption?

Back 28

so that the clinician can convey consistent comparative information about the nature of the tooth surface

Front 29

What are the three basic tactile sensations?

Back 29

Normal, irregular increases or elevations in tooth surface, and irregular depressions or grooves

Front 30

What does a normal sensation indicate about the tooth structure?

Back 30

smooth surfaces of enamel and root that has been planed as well as regular anatomic configurations (cingula and furcations)

smooth restorations

Front 31

What may result in irregular (elevated) sensations?

Back 31

Calculus

enamel pearls

over contoured, irregular restoration margins

Front 32

What may result in irregular (depressed) sensations?

Back 32

demineralized or carious lesions

abrasion, erosion, pits

areas of cemental resorption on the root

deficient margins/rough surfaces of restorations

Front 33

What two kinds of stimuli may be utilized during exploring?

Back 33

tactile and auditory

Front 34

How do we pick up tactile sensations?

Back 34

they pass through the instrument to the fingers and hand, to the brain for action

Front 35

How may the following things sound when being explored?

enamel, rough cementum or calculus, metallic restoration.

Back 35

enamel = quiet

rough cementum/calculus = scratchy

metallic = squeak or ring sound

Front 36

Exploring is preformed to _________________ visual observation on surface areas, especially after the surface has been ______________.

Back 36

confirm

dried

Front 37

When can't you use vision, and need to rely on the explorer?

Back 37

proximal areas near and around contact areas

Front 38

How can unnecessary exploration be avoided?

Back 38

adequate source of light, use of mouth mirror, proper retraction, air-hose to dry surface areas

Front 39

Adapt the tip so that the side of the point is always on the tooth surface. true or false?

Back 39

true

Front 40

What kind of strokes should be used on facial/lingual supragingival surfaces?

Back 40

short walking strokes

Front 41

For proximal surfaces, lead with the tip onto a proximal surface, rolling the handle between the fingers to ensure ________________ around the line angle.

Back 41

adaption

Front 42

What are the four essentials for subgingival exploring?

Back 42

1. Definite but LIGHT grasp

2. Consistent finger rest with light pressure

3. Definite contact of the side of the sharp tip with the tooth.

4. Light touch as the instrument is moved over the tooth surface.

Front 43

What is parallel with the long axis of the tooth?

Back 43

the lower shank

Front 44

How can you prevent unnecessary trauma subgingivally?

Back 44

Keeping point adapted and in contact with the tooth at all times

Front 45

Lead with what part of the explorer?

Back 45

the tip

Front 46

Length of a stroke depends on what?

Back 46

the depth of the sulcus

Front 47

A shallow sulcus stroke may be how long?

Back 47

it may extend the entire depth

Front 48

A deep pocket stroke should be how long?

Back 48

2-3mm

Front 49

True or false: do NOT explore a deep pocket in sections.

Back 49

False; first explore the apical area next to the base of the pocket, then move up to a higher section.

Front 50

Should you ever remove the explorer from the pocket between strokes?

Back 50

no

Front 51

LEAD WITH THE TIP

Back 51

Don't forget it. LEAD WITH THE TIP. never "back up" into an area.

Front 52

________ strokes from facial and lingual aspects for full coverage

Back 52

overlap

Front 53

Supragingival calculus is generally more localized, or is it generalized?

Back 53

more localized

Front 54

Where is supragingival calculus most commonly found?

Back 54

lingual surfaces of mandibular anterior

facial surfaces of the maxillary first and second molars (opposite salivary ducts)

Front 55

Is subgingival calculus generally more localized or generalized?

Back 55

It can be either - probing is important to show exact locations

Front 56

A vertical stroke will be used for what areas of the teeth?

Back 56

Interproximal and anteriors (facial, lingual)

On posteriors used on mesial and distal

Front 57

An oblique stroke will be used for what areas of the teeth?

Back 57

the posteriors (facial/buccal)

Front 58

Will we utilize a horizontal stroke this semester?

Back 58

nope! Not until we have a better understanding of the depths

Front 59

What is the grasp for a stroke?

Back 59

Modified pen grasp

Front 60

What will we do on the fulcrum for a stroke?

Back 60

stand UP on it

Front 61

Adaption- the working end has how many millimeters adapted to the tooth?

Back 61

1-2mm

Front 62

What kind of lateral pressure should be used?

Back 62

light lateral pressure

Front 63

Where should activation of the stroke come from?

Back 63

the wrist - NOT the fingers

Front 64

How long can the stroke be?

Back 64

2-3mm

Front 65

What color is subgingival calculus?

Back 65

Brown, black, yellow, white

Front 66

Where is subgingival calculus the heaviest?

Back 66

on mesial and distal surfaces

Front 67

What is often the shape of subgingival calculus?

Back 67

flattened

Front 68

What's the problem with burnished calculus?

Back 68

it's very hard to fix

awful to occur

Front 69

Describe a spicule

Back 69

small separate round areas

Front 70

Describe a ledge

Back 70

longer disconnected lines

Front 71

Describe a ring

Back 71

encircles the entirety of the tooth/root area

Front 72

Describe veneer

Back 72

an entire sheet against the area

Front 73

Describe finger-like formation

Back 73

like a vertical ledge

Front 74

What is burnished calculus from?

Back 74

poor technique

Front 75

How does normal (no calculus) feel?

Back 75

Smooth, no vibrations

Front 76

How do spicules feel?

Back 76

gritty sensation on tip of the explorer

Front 77

How do ledges feel?

Back 77

the explorer will move out and around from the raised bump

Front 78

How will a restoration with overhanging margin feel?

Back 78

it'll feel as if the path is blocked and that the tip must move away from it

Front 79

How will a deficient margin feel?

Back 79

It'll feel as if the tip "dips" inward to trace the restoration's surface

Front 80

How might a caries feel?

Back 80

explorer will fall into irregular typography of the tooth

Front 81

How will supraginginval caries feel on an explorer?

Back 81

TRICK QUESTION. Do NOT explore supragingival caries!!!!

Front 82

Describe adaption

Back 82

roll the back of the instrument away from the tooth to maintain adaptation

Front 83

Describe angulataion

Back 83

parallelism. Is the lower shank parallel to the long axis of the tooth?

Front 84

What's the motion activation movements?

Back 84

Handle roll, wrist rock, pivot knock

Front 85

Each end of the 11/12 will only adapt either to surfaces or way or surfaces towards you. True or false?

Back 85

True

Front 86

The working end will do what around the surface of anterior teeth?

Back 86

wrap around

Front 87

Type 0

Back 87

Healthy, no bloeeding, 0-3mm sulci. No attachment/bone loss

Front 88

Type 1

Back 88

Gingivitis - inflammation, bleeding, no connective tissue/bone loss. 0-3mm sulci

Front 89

Type 2

Back 89

Early periodontitis - bleeding, slight attachment/bone loss. 3-4 sulci

*Also used to classify >3mm sulci from inflammation, gingival hyperplasia, pseudopockets

Front 90

Type 3

Back 90

Moderate periodontitis. All of type 2 with possible mobility, 4-6mm pockets. Refer to specialist?

Front 91

Type 4

Back 91

Advanced periodontitis - all of the above with mobility, furcations, 7+mm pockets. Refer to specialist?

Front 92

Type 5

Back 92

Rapidly progressing disease - refer

Front 93

Type A

Back 93

grainly/light calculus

local posterior and or light/moderate on anterior

For types 1 and 2 only

Front 94

Type B

Back 94

Moderate deposits.

6 MUST be on posterior at least 2 on molar proximals

Front 95

Type C

Back 95

Difficult - Heavy deposits covering majority of surface line angle.

9 posterior, at least 4 molar proximals

Front 96

Type D

Back 96

Perio-maintenance for type 3-4 only. Light deposits, routine supportive care with need for more extensive care than previously provided.

Front 97

What type do we want for boards?

Back 97

2C