the explorer: a great adventure! technique focus exd 11/12 presented by: mellissa boyd, rdh, bsdh
TRANSCRIPT
The Explorer: A great adventure!
TECHNIQUE FOCUSEXD 11/12
Presented by:Mellissa Boyd, RDH, BSDH
Calculus??
Now you see it…
Now you don’t…
How do I use the EXD 11/12?
•Assessment strokes•Physical strength NOT
required
•EXD 11/12• Small, overlapping• Vertical, oblique, horizontal
•RELAXED modified pen grasp
•Activation• Hand-forearm motion• Digital motion
EXD 11/12 - Specifics
• Side of tip 1/3 always touches tooth
• Never use point
• Very light, small, overlapping strokes
• Visualize contour of teeth and roots
Posterior Teeth
• Select correct working end
• VISUAL CHECK• Check terminal shank at
DISTAL of premolar
• Terminal shank will be parallel to long axis of tooth
• Tip directed toward D of tooth
YES
NO
Adaptation & Activation for Posterior Teeth
Adaptation & Activation• Place terminal shank @ DB line
angle • tip pointed toward DISTAL
• Keep terminal shank parallel to long-axis of tooth
• Insert tip to base of sulcus
• Small overlapping strokes
•ROLL handle, advance interproximally• half way across D
Adaptation & Activation
• Back out, roll handle so tip pointed toward mesial• Keep fulcrum on tooth
• Explore entire Buccal surface• Keep tip sub-gingival
Adaptation & Activation
• ROLL handle to keep side of tip 1/3 adapted around MB line angle
• Advance interproximally• Under contact• Half way across M
• Use opposite working-end for L surfaces
Anterior Teeth
• VISUAL CHECK• Terminal shank will cross over
midline• Working-end curves around tooth
surface working toward
• Side of tip 1/3 touches tooth surface (1-2mm)• NOT point
Adaptation & Activation for Anterior Teeth
for R & L Handed Clinicians• Insert tip to base of sulcus at midline• Tip pointed in direction of
surfaces toward• ROLL handle at line angle
• Small overlapping strokes
• Explore all surfaces toward, then flip ends for surfaces away
• Complete all F surfaces, then L
• Overlap @ midline• Use horizontal stroke
R: toward / L: away
R: away / L: toward
Challenges for Maintaining Adaptation
• Line angles
• Convex and rounded surfaces
• Proximal root surfaces
• Operator positioning
Why would I miss calculus?
• Irregular calculus pattern
• Instrument choice• Wrong explorer• Wrong end
• Grasp• “Death-Grip”• Middle finger
• Too much pressure• Incorrect position
• Strokes• Not overlapping• Too big