RDH Dental Hygiene Clinical Procedures

Question 1

What is the primary objective of dental prophylaxis?

Accepted Answer

Remove plaque and calculus

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Sickle scaler

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

45–90 degrees

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Periodontal probe

Answer

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?

Accepted Answer

Reduces hand fatigue and biofilm

Answer

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.

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Uncategorized Practice Test

RDH Dental Hygiene Clinical Procedures