RDH Dental Hygiene Clinical Procedures — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary objective of dental prophylaxis?
- Whiten the teeth
- Remove plaque and calculus (Correct answer)
- Detect caries
- Polish the enamel surface
Correct answer: Remove plaque and calculus
The primary objective of dental prophylaxis, or a professional dental cleaning, is to meticulously remove bacterial plaque and hardened calculus (tartar) from the tooth surfaces, both above and slightly below the gum line. This prevents the initiation and progression of dental caries and periodontal diseases, maintaining oral health.
Question 2: Which instrument is best suited for removing supragingival calculus?
- Curette
- Explorer
- Sickle scaler (Correct answer)
- Ultrasonic tip
Correct answer: Sickle scaler
A sickle scaler is an instrument with a pointed tip and two cutting edges, specifically designed for removing moderate to heavy supragingival calculus (above the gum line). Its shape allows for effective dislodgement of deposits from the crowns of teeth, particularly on anterior teeth and buccal/lingual surfaces of posteriors.
Question 3: What is the correct angulation for scaling with a curette?
- 0–20 degrees
- 45–90 degrees (Correct answer)
- 90–120 degrees
- 120–150 degrees
Correct answer: 45–90 degrees
For effective scaling with a curette, the blade should be angled between 45 and 90 degrees to the tooth surface. This angulation allows the cutting edge to engage and remove calculus efficiently while minimizing trauma to the tooth structure and surrounding soft tissues, ensuring both efficacy and patient comfort.
Question 4: Which procedure is commonly used to assess periodontal pocket depth?
- Dental explorer
- Sickle scaler
- Periodontal probe (Correct answer)
- Ultrasonic scaler
Correct answer: Periodontal probe
A periodontal probe is a slender, calibrated instrument specifically designed to measure the depth of the gingival sulcus or periodontal pockets. This measurement is a critical diagnostic tool for assessing the health of the periodontium and detecting the presence and severity of periodontal disease.
Question 5: What is the benefit of using an ultrasonic scaler in clinical practice?
- Removes only supragingival calculus
- Polishes teeth surfaces
- Reduces hand fatigue and biofilm (Correct answer)
- Measures gum recession
Correct answer: Reduces hand fatigue and biofilm
Ultrasonic scalers utilize high-frequency vibrations to efficiently dislodge calculus and disrupt bacterial biofilm from tooth surfaces, both supragingivally and subgingivally. This method often reduces hand fatigue for the clinician compared to manual scaling and can be more effective in removing tenacious deposits and biofilm.
Question 6: Which area of the mouth is the Gracey 11/12 curette specifically designed to access?
- Distal surfaces of posterior teeth
- Mesial surfaces of posterior teeth (Correct answer)
- Anterior teeth surfaces
- Occlusal surfaces of molars
Correct answer: Mesial surfaces of posterior teeth
Gracey curettes are area-specific instruments, and the Gracey 11/12 is specifically designed with angulations and curvatures to effectively adapt to and scale the mesial surfaces of posterior teeth. This precise design allows for thorough debridement in these anatomically challenging areas.
RDH Dental Hygiene Clinical Procedures
What is the primary objective of dental prophylaxis?