The Explorer: A great adventure!

TECHNIQUE FOCUSEXD 11/12

Presented by:Mellissa Boyd, RDH, BSDH

Calculus??

Now you see it…

Now you don’t…

How do I use the EXD 11/12?

•Assessment strokes•Physical strength NOT

required

•EXD 11/12• Small, overlapping• Vertical, oblique, horizontal

•RELAXED modified pen grasp

•Activation• Hand-forearm motion• Digital motion

EXD 11/12 - Specifics

• Side of tip 1/3 always touches tooth

• Never use point

• Very light, small, overlapping strokes

• Visualize contour of teeth and roots

Posterior Teeth

• Select correct working end

• VISUAL CHECK• Check terminal shank at

DISTAL of premolar

• Terminal shank will be parallel to long axis of tooth

• Tip directed toward D of tooth

YES

NO

Adaptation & Activation for Posterior Teeth

Adaptation & Activation• Place terminal shank @ DB line

angle • tip pointed toward DISTAL

• Keep terminal shank parallel to long-axis of tooth

• Insert tip to base of sulcus

• Small overlapping strokes

•ROLL handle, advance interproximally• half way across D

Adaptation & Activation

• Back out, roll handle so tip pointed toward mesial• Keep fulcrum on tooth

• Explore entire Buccal surface• Keep tip sub-gingival

Adaptation & Activation

• ROLL handle to keep side of tip 1/3 adapted around MB line angle

• Advance interproximally• Under contact• Half way across M

• Use opposite working-end for L surfaces

Anterior Teeth

• VISUAL CHECK• Terminal shank will cross over

midline• Working-end curves around tooth

surface working toward

• Side of tip 1/3 touches tooth surface (1-2mm)• NOT point

Adaptation & Activation for Anterior Teeth

for R & L Handed Clinicians• Insert tip to base of sulcus at midline• Tip pointed in direction of

surfaces toward• ROLL handle at line angle

• Small overlapping strokes

• Explore all surfaces toward, then flip ends for surfaces away

• Complete all F surfaces, then L

• Overlap @ midline• Use horizontal stroke

R: toward / L: away

R: away / L: toward

Challenges for Maintaining Adaptation

• Line angles

• Convex and rounded surfaces

• Proximal root surfaces

• Operator positioning

Why would I miss calculus?

• Irregular calculus pattern

• Instrument choice• Wrong explorer• Wrong end

• Grasp• “Death-Grip”• Middle finger

• Too much pressure• Incorrect position

• Strokes• Not overlapping• Too big