📌 POINTS TO PONDER 

🔹 A general rule for working end selection is that the lower shank should be parallel to the surface to be instrumented. 

🔹 Instruments with straight shank are used in anteriors and premolars whereas instruments with contra-angle are used on posterior teeth.  

🔹 Chisel is the only instrument which is activated with a push motion. 

🔹 The beaks of a needle holder are shorter and stronger than the beaks of a hemostat. 

🔹Novatech probes: These are the probes with uniqueright angle design for improved adaptability in posterior. 

🔹Expros are double end instrument with an explorer on one end and probe on other, e.g. 17/Williams, 23/0 Michigan, 23/Williams. 

🔹Merritt and Gilmore periodontal probes are not calibrated probe. 

🔹 The aerosol which are produced by ultrasonic scaling remains in the air for minimum of 30 minutes.

📣 CLASSIFICATION OF PERIODONTAL INSTRUMENTS 

1. Nonsurgical instruments 
2. Surgical instruments 

📍NONSURGICAL INSTRUMENTS 

⭐ According to the purpose they serve: 

1. Diagnostic instruments 

• Dental Mirrors 
• Explorers 
• Tweezers 
• Periodontal probes 

2. Scaling and root planing instruments

i) Hand instruments 

a. Scalers 

• Sickle scalers 
• File scalers 
• Chisel 
• Hoe 

b. Curettes 

ii) Ultrasonic and sonic instruments 

iii) Rotating instruments 

iv) Reciprocating instruments 

v) LASERS 

3. Periodontal endoscope 

4. Cleaning and polishing instruments

📍SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS 

1. Excisional and incisional instruments 
2. Surgical curettes and sickle scaler 
3. Periosteal elevators 
4. Surgical chisels 
5. Surgical files 
6. Scissors and Nippers 
7. Needle holders

📌 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS MCQs 

💡Furcation is best detected by which probe: 

A. WHO probe 

B. University of Michigan ‘O’ probe 

C. Marquis color coded probe 

D. Naber’s probe

Answer : D 

💡Which of the following instrument has a two-point contact with the tooth: 

A. Hoe 

B. Sickle 

C. Currette 

D. Cumin scaler

Answer : A 

💡Dental instrument used with a “push” motion is: 

A. Hoe 

B. Chisel 

C. Currette 

D. Sickle scaler 

Answer : B 

💡Gracey Curette No. 11 – 12 are used for: 

A. Anterior teeth 

B. Posterior teeth mesial surfaces 

C. Posterior teeth distal surfaces 

D. Posterior teeth facial and lingual surfaces

Answer : B 

💡Cross-section of sickle scaler is: 

A. Triangular 

B. Half circular 

C. Circular 

D. Oval

Answer: A 

💡Kirkland and Orban knives are used for: 

A. Curettage 

B. Gingivectomy 

C. Root planing 

D. Scaling

Answer : B 

💡Which of the following is a magnetized instrument? 

A. Schwartz periotrievers 

B. Hu-friedy after five curette 

C. Morse sickle scaler 

D. Modified Gracey curette

Answer : A 

💡The diameter of dental endoscope is: 

A. 0.66 mm 

B. 0.77 mm 

C. 0.88 mm 

D. 0.99 mm

Answer : D 

💡Instrument for visualization of deposits present in deep periodontal pockets and furcation: 

A. Periotran 

B. Periochip 

C. Perioscope 

D. Prism loupe

Answer : C

💡The millimeter markings that are missing in Williams probe: 

A. 1 and 3 

B. 4 and 6 

C. 7 and 9 

D. 10 and 12

Answer : B 

💡Which of the following Gracey Curettes is meant for facial and lingual surface of posterior teeth: 

A. # 9-10 

B. # 11-12 

C. # 13-14 

D. # 15-16

Answer : A 

💡 Periotriever is used for: 

A. Periosteal elevation 

B. Removal of broken tips of curettes 

C. Measuring crevicular fluid 

D. Local drug delivery

Answer : B 

💡 The blade of a Hoe is bent at an angle of: 

A. 45° 

B. 66° 

C. 90° 

D. 99°

Answer : D 

💡 Linear action of the tip is a feature of: 

A. Sonic scaler 

B. Piezo scaler 

C. Magnetostrictive 

D. All of the above

Answer : B 

💡The furcation entrance is narrower than standard curette in first molar in approximately: 

A. 20% cases 

B. 39% cases 

C. 48% cases 

D. 58% cases

Answer : D

💡Which of the following powered instruments use an insert with a stack? 

A. Sonic 

B. Magnetostrictive 

C. Piezoelectric 

D. Manual instrument

Answer : B 

💡Which of the following powered instruments function at the highest cycles per second? 

A. Magnetostrictive 

B. Sonic 

C. Piezoelectric 

D. Manual

Answer : C 

💡Which of the following health concern contraindicates use of air-powered polishing? 

A. Diabetes 

B. Tuberculosis 

C. Chronic migraine 

D. All of the above

Answer : B 

💡 Which of the following factors affect the abrasiveness of a polishing agent? 

A. Particle size and shape 

B. Particle hardness and concentration 

C. Amount of water and fluoride 

D. A and B 

E.  A and C

Answer : D

📌 VIVA VOCE 

Q1. What is Expros? 

Ans. Expros are double-end instrument with an explorer on one end and probe on other, e.g., 17/Williams, 23/0 Michigan, 23/Williams. 

Q2. What are Novatech probes? 

Ans. These are the probes with unique right angle design for improved adaptability in posterior teeth. 

Q3. What is balanced instrument? 

Ans. When the working ends are centered on a line running through the long-axis of the handle, then the instrument is said balanced instrument. 

Q4. Which mark should be taken as final reading, when the gingival margin appears at a level between two probe marks? 

Ans. Higher mark should be taken as final reading when the gingival margin appears at a level between two probe marks. 

Q5. What is the advantage of color band on some periodontal probes? 

Ans. The colored band on the periodontal probe is designed to make periodontal examination readings more objective and faster. 

Q6. What are contra-angled shanks? 

Ans. Instruments with longer blades/more complex orientations may require 2 or 3 angles in the shank to bring the cutting edge close to the long-axis of the handle. Such shanks are termed as contra-angled shanks. 

Q7. Which instrument shows two-point contact? 

Ans. Hoe scalers show two-point contact. 

Q8. Where Orban’s knife is used? 

Ans. Orban’s knife is used during:

✴️Gingivectomy: procedure at interdental areas and distal to the last tooth for giving external bevel incision.

✴️Flap procedure for giving third horizontal incision that is interdental incision. 

Q9. Which probe is flat and not round in nature? 

Ans. Goldman-Fox probe 

Q10. What is the basic difference between After Five or Standard Gracey Curettes? 

Ans. The blade of Mini-bladed curettes is half in length compared to After Five or Standard Gracey curettes. 

Q11. Which instrument is activated with a push motion? 

Ans. Chisel is the only instrument which is activated with a push motion.