The Explorer
(Lets’ explore the possibilities!)
Types of Explorers:
Shepherd Hook Explorer
Pigstail or Cowshorn Explorer
Straight Explorer
Orban or #17/18 Explorer
Explorers that you will use here at UMB.
#17 Explorer
ODU 11/12 Explorer
General Design and
Characteristics:
Foot of instrument
Explorer TIP:
Explorer SHANK:
Or ‘Terminal shank’
Choosing the Correct
WORKING END:
Now- let’s move to the
Anterior Teeth:
#17 Explorer for
ANTERIOR TEETH
Insert so
that
terminal
shank is
parallel to
the long
axis of the
Instrument
tip should
point down
towards the
sulcus.
Here the terminal
shank is parallel to
line angle.
Start at the Red dotted line (“Line angle”) furthest
away from you and walk towards the contact.
That means (for Maxillary teeth):
Righties start with the ‘distal’ of #11 (upper left canine).
Lefties start with the ‘distal’ of #6 (upper right canine).
(What is your clock position for the Anterior teeth?)
That means (for Mandibular teeth):
Righties start with the ‘distal’ of #22 (lower left canine).
Lefties start with the ‘distal’ of #27 (lower right canine).
Exploring the Posterior Teeth:
Insert at distal
line angle
Right from Wrong:
Right
Wrong
Why is this one wrong?
Terminal shank is not parallel to long axis of the tooth!
Shank should be a little
straighter so that tip
points downward into
the sulcus.
After walking the length of the distal surface- pull
explorer out of sulcus and roll instrument till tip
points towards the mesial surface.
Reinsert at the Distal line angle a walk mesially.
Walk explorer to the mesial line angle:
Tip of instrument points down into sulcusthis means the terminal shank will now be
“oblique”.
Terminal shank will
straighten up at the
Mesial line angle
Sequence for posterior
sextants:
Probing Sequence
(per quadrant):
(limited radius)
For Right
Clinicians:
Patient’s
Head
Clock Position
UR and LR
Buccal
(Anteriors)
Left
10:00-11:00
(Neutral)
12:00 (Anteriors)
Right
11:00
(Neutral)
(12:00 )
------------
------------------
UL Buccal
(Anteriors)
Right
(Neutral)
11:00
(12:00)
UL Lingual
(Anteriors)
Right
(Neutral)
11:00
(12:00)
LL Buccal
(Anteriors)
Right
(Neutral)
10:00-11:00
(12:00)
LL Lingual
(Anteriors)
Left
(Neutral)
10:00
(12:00)
----------------
*
Handed
Area
UR and LR
Lingual
(Anteriors)
Midline
Notice that operator position and the
direction of the instrument handle changes
at the canine on the dominant side *.
*
Midline
Probing Sequence
(per quadrant):
Midline
*
(limited radius)
For
Left Handed Clinicians:
Area
UL and LL
Buccal
(Anteriors)
Patient’s
Head
Clock Position
Right
2:00-1:00
(Neutral)
(12:00)
UL and LL
Lingual
(Anteriors)
Left
2:00-1:00
(Neutral)
(12:00)
----------------
------------
------------------
UR Buccal
(Anteriors)
Left
(Neutral)
1:00
(12:00)
UL Lingual
(Anteriors)
Left
(Neutral)
1:00
(12:00)
LL Buccal
(Anteriors)
Left
(Neutral)
2:00-1:00
(12:00)
LL Lingual
(Anteriors)
Left
(Neutral)
2:00
(12:00)
Notice that operator position and the
direction of the instrument handle changes at
the canine on the dominant side. *
*
Midline
Things to keep in mind:
The video on exploring technique demonstrates this beautifully!!! Can you find it?
This is where your Dental Anatomy is going to come to play!!!
Need to adapt
instrument tip to
the contours of
the toothin this case, the
concavity.
Adapting instrument tip to the
concavity:
Distal of the mesial root
Mesial of the distal root
The End!