Periodontal instruments

Instrument Classification
 PARTS OF THE PERIODONTAL INSTRUMENT

.Handle —The part of a periodontal instrument used for holding the instrument

— Shank
Metal part located between the handle and the working-end of a
.dental instrument

Working-End —The part of a dental instrument that does the work of the
instrument
 Design Characteristics of Instrument Handle
VARIATION IN HANDLE DESIGN
Different handle weight, diameters and texture

BALANCE OF THE HANDLE AND WORKING-END

 SIMPLE AND COMPLEX SHANK DESIGN
The instrument shank extends from below the working-end to the junction of the
.instrument handle

.Simple shank design ( straight shank)

shank that is bent in one plane (front-to-back)
Instruments with simple shanks are used primarily on anterior teeth
Complex shank design (angled or curved shank)—a shank that is bent in two
planes (front-to-back and side-to-side) to facilitate instrumentation of posterior teeth

Rigid shank

Flexible shank

Simple shank design Complex shank design

 THE FUNCTIONAL AND LOWER SHANK

The functional shank begins below the working-end and

extends to the last bend in the shank nearest the handle
Short functional shanks are used to remove supra gingival calculus
From the tooth crown

long functional shanks are used on both the crowns and

roots of the teeth

lower shank ( terminal shank )

The section of the functional shank that is nearest to the
working-end is termed

3mm))Standard (3mm) & extended lower shank>

The instrument with the extended shank is ideal for use

in deep periodontal pockets
 Design Characteristics of Instrument Working-End

SINGLE- AND DOUBLE-ENDED INSTRUMENTS

DESIGN NAME AND NUMBER

 WORKING-END IDENTIFICATION

PARTS OF THE WORKING-END

Face
Back
Lateral surface
Cutting edges
Toe or tip
 Cross section

Sickle scalers are calculus removal instruments

that are triangular in cross section

The working-end of a sickle scaler has a pointed

.back and pointed tip
Curetts are calculus removal instruments that are
.semi-circular in cross section

The working-end of a curet has a rounded back and

.toe
 The Probe
Primary instrument in the periodontal examination
Assess gingival health
Periodontal status
Exploratory

Probe Design
Vary in cross-sectional design
Rectangular in shape (flat)
Oval
Round
Millimeter markings Calibrated at varying intervals
 Use of the Probe

Inserted in pocket or sulcus to the

Junctional epithelium
: Measures
Sulcus & periodontal pockets
Gingival recession
Attachment loss
 Periodontal Probe design

Williams Probe
North Carolina Probe

Millimeter grooves at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 mm

markings at 4 and 6 mm are missing to avoid( Millimeter markings at each millimeter
)confusion in reading the markings color-coded at 4 and 9 mm

World Health Organization

Goldman Fox Probe
)WHO(

Thin, round working-end

Millimeter grooves at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 mm
)markings at 4 and 6 mm are missing(
Markings at 3.5, 5.5, 8.5, and 11.5 mm Flat working-end
 Plastic Probe
.Millimeter markings at 3, 5, 7, and 10 mm
Round, tapered working-end •
Color-coding facilitates reading •
Recommended for probing dental implants •
Sterilizable •

Florida Probe
Computer-assisted probe
Constant probing pressure of 15 g •
Measurement of the probe depth is made •
electronically and transferred automatically
to the computer
 DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS OF FURCATION PROBES

A furcation probe is a type of periodontal probe used to evaluate the bone

.support in the furcation areas of bifurcated and trifurcated teeth

Furcation probes have curved, blunt-tipped working-ends that allow easy .1

.access to the furcation areas

The Nabers probes is the traditional instruments used for measuring .2

furcations
 Explorers Curved Explorer
Straight Explorer

Can be used carefully subgingivaly

because the point could Injure the soft tissue
at the base of the sulcus or pocket

Orban-Type Explorer

Assessment of anterior root surfaces and the facial and

lingual surfaces of posterior teeth
Sickle Scalers
GENERAL DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS
Functions of Sickle Scalers

a. A sickle scaler is a periodontal instrument used to remove calculus deposits

from the crowns of the teeth & using Sickle scalers are limited enamel surfaces and
.should NOT be used on root surfaces

b. Sickle scalers are used to remove medium- to large-size calculus deposits

c. The pointed tip provides good access to the proximal surfaces apical to the
contact areas
 .Anterior sickle scalers are limited to use on anterior sextants

Posterior sickle scalers are designed for use on posterior sextants, but
.they also may be used on anterior teeth

:Sickle scaler used mainly to remove

Supragingival calculus
Stain
Slightly subgingival (1-2mm)
 Design Characteristics of Sickle Scalers

The working-end of a sickle scaler has several unique

design characteristics
A pointed back .1
A pointed tip .2
A triangular cross section .3
Two cutting edges per working-end .4
The face is perpendicular to .5
the lower shank
Universal Curettes
GENERAL DESIGN CHARACTERISTICS

A universal curette is a periodontal instrument used to remove small- and

medium-size calculus deposits

Universal curette can be used both supragingivally and subgingivally—on

crown and root surfaces

Curette is called “universal” because it can be applied to both anterior and posterior
teeth & can be used on all surfaces
Design Characteristics

The working-end of a universal curette has several unique design characteristics

A . Rounded back
b. A rounded toe
c. A semi-circular on cross section
d. Two cutting edges per working-end
e. The face is at a 90° angle to the lower shank
 TYPES OF UNIVERSAL CURETTES
Columbia
Barnhart
Bunting
Goldman
Younger-Good
Langer (gracey shank)
 Area-Specific Curettes

The name “area-specific” signifies that each instrument is designed for use
.only on certain teeth and certain tooth surfaces
 .Design Characteristics

A rounded back .1
A rounded toe .2
A semi-circular cross section .3
The face of an area-specific curet tilts at approximately a 70° angle to the .4
.lower shank

Only one cutting edge per working-end is used for periodontal instrumentation .5
Only the lower cutting edge of an area-specific curette is used for
periodontal instrumentation and automatically can be correct
angulation for periodontal debridement when the lower shank
is parallel to the tooth surface to be instrumented
 THE GRACEY CURETTE SERIES
Periodontal instrument that would reach root surfaces within deep periodontal
.pockets without trauma to the pocket epithelium
 Advantages of Design Characteristics

Allows insertion into deep pockets

Prevents tissue trauma
Correct cutting edge to tooth surface angulation
Easier adaptation
Around convex tooth crowns to access root surfaces
Design Analysis of Sickles and Curets