Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Sickle Scaler & Adaptation, Angulation, and Activation

Yesterday I was able to practice using my sickle scaler on anterior teeth.  I was the second one to practice, so I was able to feel what Kristen was doing when she was scaling and see the consequences of incorrect adaptation.  Incorrect adaptation makes the gingiva bleed and feel very sore.  I tried really hard to focus on this and learn to get this down before worrying about the other A's.  I feel like I did an okay job; however, I did make her bleed a little bit.  I want to keep practicing so I feel comfortable subgingival.  I think this will come with time.  I do know what Angulation means.  This is the proper degree you hold the instrument at in order to remove calculus (70-80 degrees).  I haven't really practiced this other than when Prof. Costley came over and showed me this.  Activation is a term used for the removal of calculus.  Because my pod partner doesn't have a lot of calculus on her anterior teeth it was hard to actually remove anything.  I was able to use my typodont to remove anterior calculus, but the gingiva on the typodont is rubber and made it difficult to remove deep calculus.

I wasn't able to pass off any PE's today because I helping Kristen pass her's off.  I wasn't really ready for the instrument identification anyway.

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