NBDHE Instrumentation
Which of the following instruments are beat design for debriding heavy narrow and deep periodontal
pockets?
a. rigid and extra rigid Gracey curets
b. mini-five Gracey curets
c. micro mini-five curets
d. after five Gracey curets - ✔✔ correct answer c. micro mini-five curets
A dental hygienist is scaling the posterior, mandibular right quadrant. Suddenly the tip of working
end of the 13/14 Gracey breaks. Which of the following is NOT an appropriate part of the initial
retrieval procedure?
a. reinstrument the area with another curet
b. dry the area with compressed air
c. inform the patient about the breakage
d. use a magnetic tip instrument to retrieve the broken tip, such as Periotriever. - ✔✔ correct answer
b. dry the area with compressed air
Compressed air can push the broken tip even deeper in the pocket.
Managing broken tip:
1. inform the patient
2. stop low-/high-speed suction
3. have the patient expectorate into a cup
4. when the tip is recovered, inform the client & show them the tip
5. document incident
When inserting a curet into a periodontal pocket, what is the ideal angle between the cutting edge of
the blade of the instrument and the tooth?
a. 100-110 degrees
b. 80-90 degrees
c. 60-80 degrees
, NBDHE Instrumentation
d. 0-10 degrees - ✔✔ correct answer d. 0-10 degrees
Which of the following is the best choice for light to moderate subgingival calculus removal?
a. area-specific curet
b. universal curet
c. sickle scaler
d. chisel scaler - ✔✔ correct answer b. universal curet
Universal - good for light to moderate (small to medium size) supra & sub-g calc (not perio involved)
The dental hygienist is scaling a sextant 6. The areas have generalized 5-6 mm pockets with light
subgingival calculus and BOP. Which of the following would be best instrument to use to debride the
pockets in this area?
a. area-specific curet
b. universal curet
c. sickle scaler
d. chisel scaler - ✔✔ correct answer a. area-specific curet
Gracey - esp. good for perio involved sub-g calc
All of the following are contraindications for use of mechanized instrumentation EXCEPT
a. CVD with secondary pulmonary disease
b. communicable diseases
c. multiple dystrophy with dysphagia
d. chronic pulmonary disease - ✔✔ correct answer b. communicable diseases
communicable diseases (Hepatitis, COVID-19) can be transmitted through aerosol, so do not treat
the patient until they are not transmissible.
Which of the following instruments are beat design for debriding heavy narrow and deep periodontal
pockets?
a. rigid and extra rigid Gracey curets
b. mini-five Gracey curets
c. micro mini-five curets
d. after five Gracey curets - ✔✔ correct answer c. micro mini-five curets
A dental hygienist is scaling the posterior, mandibular right quadrant. Suddenly the tip of working
end of the 13/14 Gracey breaks. Which of the following is NOT an appropriate part of the initial
retrieval procedure?
a. reinstrument the area with another curet
b. dry the area with compressed air
c. inform the patient about the breakage
d. use a magnetic tip instrument to retrieve the broken tip, such as Periotriever. - ✔✔ correct answer
b. dry the area with compressed air
Compressed air can push the broken tip even deeper in the pocket.
Managing broken tip:
1. inform the patient
2. stop low-/high-speed suction
3. have the patient expectorate into a cup
4. when the tip is recovered, inform the client & show them the tip
5. document incident
When inserting a curet into a periodontal pocket, what is the ideal angle between the cutting edge of
the blade of the instrument and the tooth?
a. 100-110 degrees
b. 80-90 degrees
c. 60-80 degrees
, NBDHE Instrumentation
d. 0-10 degrees - ✔✔ correct answer d. 0-10 degrees
Which of the following is the best choice for light to moderate subgingival calculus removal?
a. area-specific curet
b. universal curet
c. sickle scaler
d. chisel scaler - ✔✔ correct answer b. universal curet
Universal - good for light to moderate (small to medium size) supra & sub-g calc (not perio involved)
The dental hygienist is scaling a sextant 6. The areas have generalized 5-6 mm pockets with light
subgingival calculus and BOP. Which of the following would be best instrument to use to debride the
pockets in this area?
a. area-specific curet
b. universal curet
c. sickle scaler
d. chisel scaler - ✔✔ correct answer a. area-specific curet
Gracey - esp. good for perio involved sub-g calc
All of the following are contraindications for use of mechanized instrumentation EXCEPT
a. CVD with secondary pulmonary disease
b. communicable diseases
c. multiple dystrophy with dysphagia
d. chronic pulmonary disease - ✔✔ correct answer b. communicable diseases
communicable diseases (Hepatitis, COVID-19) can be transmitted through aerosol, so do not treat
the patient until they are not transmissible.
