Instrument Selection for Premolar Teeth

By Kathleen O. Hodges, RDH, MS

The mechanical removal of deposits—from plaque biofilm to calculus —is key to effectively caring for patients with different oral health statuses, including those with a healthy periodontium, gingival inflammation, or impaired junctional epithelium and alveolar bone. However, the complex root anatomy of premolar teeth makes instrumentation challenging. The use of both ultrasonic and hand instrumentation is the typical course of action, as both are effective and complement each other.^1,2 In the final installment of this series, the focus will be on instrument selection for nonsurgical periodontal therapy and periodontal maintenance with an emphasis on premolar teeth.

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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