Periodontal Instrumentation and Care Flashcards
7 cards from real ADEX practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Periodontal Instrumentation and Care flashcards as text
Subgingival air polishing with glycine or erythritol powder is MOST indicated for:
Answer: Biofilm disruption and maintenance debridement in periodontal pockets
Low-abrasive amino acid powders like glycine are effective and gentle for biofilm removal during supportive periodontal therapy.
A patient presents with 6 mm pockets on the mesial surfaces of molars with bleeding on probing. The tissue appears fibrotic. Which statement is TRUE regarding instrumentation?
Answer: Fibrotic tissue may mask true pocket depth and resist retraction, complicating instrument access
Fibrotic tissue is dense and firm, which can limit visibility and instrument access while still harboring pathogenic biofilm.
Which instrument is BEST suited for removing heavy ledge-like supragingival calculus from the facial surface of mandibular anterior teeth?
Answer: Sickle scaler (H6/H7)
The sickle scaler's straight cutting edges are effective for breaking away large supragingival calculus deposits on smooth surfaces.
When using a piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler, the clinician should use which tip motion for most efficient calculus removal?
Answer: Overlapping vertical, horizontal, and oblique strokes with light pressure
Overlapping multi-directional strokes with light pressure maximize the cavitation effect and tip efficiency of piezoelectric units.
Sharpening an instrument to restore its cutting edge is indicated when:
Answer: The instrument appears visually dull or reflects light along the edge
A sharp edge will not reflect light; a dull edge creates a rounded, reflective surface visible under light.
Which local delivery antimicrobial agent is FDA-approved for subgingival placement as an adjunct to scaling and root planing?
Answer: Doxycycline hyclate (Atridox) or minocycline microspheres (Arestin)
Both Atridox (doxycycline hyclate) and Arestin (minocycline microspheres) are FDA-approved for subgingival use adjunctive to SRP.
The concept of 'closed debridement' refers to:
Answer: Non-surgical scaling and root planing without surgical flap reflection
Closed (non-surgical) debridement means SRP is performed through the gingival sulcus without surgically reflecting a flap.