Dental Hygiene Exam #1 Question and
answer verified to pass 2026/2027
Two cutting edges and a rounded toe for use of all surfaces - correct answer Barnhart Universal Curette
Effective for interproximal surfaces, use on anteriors and premolars, shortened blade version, super thin
design - correct answer H6/H7
1-15 mm increments - correct answer UNC probe
Area-specific to allow for deep scaling, root planing, and periodontal debridement - correct answer
Gracey Curettes
Thicker, stronger, less flexible shank, preferred for heavy calculus removal, shank is wider - correct
answer Rigid Gracey Curettes
Designed for deeper perio pockets
Elongated terminal shank
Thin blade - correct answer After five gracey curettes
50% shorter blade for smaller roots, narrow pockets, furcations, and development grooves - correct
answer Mini Five gracey curettes
Increased access to molars
Mesial posterior use
Offset blade to scale mesial surfaces
Introduced in 1993 - correct answer Gracey 15/16 Curette
,Improve access to distal surfaces of posterior teeth
Multiple bends improve handle position so it doesn't interfere with opposing arch
Reduced blade length enhances adaptation to entire tooth - correct answer Gracey 17/18 Curette
-Intraoral fulcrum which finger rest is on opposite arch form treatment area
-Used to improve access to deep pockets and to facilitate parallelism to proximal root surfaces - correct
answer Opposite Arch Fulcrum
-Intraoral fulcrum where finger rest is established on opposite side of arch from treatment area
-Rest ring finger on a tooth on opposite side of arch - correct answer Cross-Arch Fulcrum
Extra-oral fulcrum which dominant hand rests against patients chin or cheek - correct answer Basic
Extraoral Fulcrum
-Intraoral fulcrum in which finger of non-dominant hand serves as resting point for dominant hand
-Improves parallelism of lower shank to tooth surface
-Nondominant index finger provides stable rest for improved access to deep perio pockets - correct
answer Finger on Finger Fulcrum
Finger on non-dominant hand is used to concentrate lateral pressure against tooth to help control
instrument stroke
Index finger on non-dominant hand against shank of perio instrument - correct answer Finger Assist
Fulcrum
1. Debride root trunk using distal curette then mesial
2. Treat each root as separate tooth. Use distal on distal portion of each root.
, 3. Use mesial curette on each mesial root
4.Treat roof of furcation and concavity coronal to furcation entrance with mesial curette - correct
answer Sequence for Instrumentation on Multirooted teeth
Rapidly vibrating irrigate working-end to dislodge calculus from tooth, disrupt biofilm, flush out bacteria
from perio pocket - correct answer Powered Instrumentation Devices
Converts air pressure into high frequency sound waves that produce vibrations of working end; operate
low frequency of 3000-8000 cycles per second and driven by compressed air from dental unit - correct
answer Sonic
Converts electrical energy into high frequency sound waves that produce rapid vibrations; operates at
18,000-50,000 cycles per second - correct answer Ultrasonic
Electrical energy to activate crystals within handpiece to produce vibrations - correct answer
Piezoelectric
Transfer energy to metal stacks or a ferrous rod to produce vibrations of powered working-end - correct
answer Magnetostrictive
Effective removal of calculus deposits and plaque biofilms
Pocket penetration
Access to furcation areas
Irrigation
Shorter Instrumentation time
Facilitation of difficult instrumentation tasks - correct answer Effectiveness of Powered Ultrasonic
Instrumentation
Several mechanisms of action - correct answer Ultrasonic: Mechanical, water irrigation, and cavitation
answer verified to pass 2026/2027
Two cutting edges and a rounded toe for use of all surfaces - correct answer Barnhart Universal Curette
Effective for interproximal surfaces, use on anteriors and premolars, shortened blade version, super thin
design - correct answer H6/H7
1-15 mm increments - correct answer UNC probe
Area-specific to allow for deep scaling, root planing, and periodontal debridement - correct answer
Gracey Curettes
Thicker, stronger, less flexible shank, preferred for heavy calculus removal, shank is wider - correct
answer Rigid Gracey Curettes
Designed for deeper perio pockets
Elongated terminal shank
Thin blade - correct answer After five gracey curettes
50% shorter blade for smaller roots, narrow pockets, furcations, and development grooves - correct
answer Mini Five gracey curettes
Increased access to molars
Mesial posterior use
Offset blade to scale mesial surfaces
Introduced in 1993 - correct answer Gracey 15/16 Curette
,Improve access to distal surfaces of posterior teeth
Multiple bends improve handle position so it doesn't interfere with opposing arch
Reduced blade length enhances adaptation to entire tooth - correct answer Gracey 17/18 Curette
-Intraoral fulcrum which finger rest is on opposite arch form treatment area
-Used to improve access to deep pockets and to facilitate parallelism to proximal root surfaces - correct
answer Opposite Arch Fulcrum
-Intraoral fulcrum where finger rest is established on opposite side of arch from treatment area
-Rest ring finger on a tooth on opposite side of arch - correct answer Cross-Arch Fulcrum
Extra-oral fulcrum which dominant hand rests against patients chin or cheek - correct answer Basic
Extraoral Fulcrum
-Intraoral fulcrum in which finger of non-dominant hand serves as resting point for dominant hand
-Improves parallelism of lower shank to tooth surface
-Nondominant index finger provides stable rest for improved access to deep perio pockets - correct
answer Finger on Finger Fulcrum
Finger on non-dominant hand is used to concentrate lateral pressure against tooth to help control
instrument stroke
Index finger on non-dominant hand against shank of perio instrument - correct answer Finger Assist
Fulcrum
1. Debride root trunk using distal curette then mesial
2. Treat each root as separate tooth. Use distal on distal portion of each root.
, 3. Use mesial curette on each mesial root
4.Treat roof of furcation and concavity coronal to furcation entrance with mesial curette - correct
answer Sequence for Instrumentation on Multirooted teeth
Rapidly vibrating irrigate working-end to dislodge calculus from tooth, disrupt biofilm, flush out bacteria
from perio pocket - correct answer Powered Instrumentation Devices
Converts air pressure into high frequency sound waves that produce vibrations of working end; operate
low frequency of 3000-8000 cycles per second and driven by compressed air from dental unit - correct
answer Sonic
Converts electrical energy into high frequency sound waves that produce rapid vibrations; operates at
18,000-50,000 cycles per second - correct answer Ultrasonic
Electrical energy to activate crystals within handpiece to produce vibrations - correct answer
Piezoelectric
Transfer energy to metal stacks or a ferrous rod to produce vibrations of powered working-end - correct
answer Magnetostrictive
Effective removal of calculus deposits and plaque biofilms
Pocket penetration
Access to furcation areas
Irrigation
Shorter Instrumentation time
Facilitation of difficult instrumentation tasks - correct answer Effectiveness of Powered Ultrasonic
Instrumentation
Several mechanisms of action - correct answer Ultrasonic: Mechanical, water irrigation, and cavitation
