Fulcruming - An Instructional Video On Dental Hygiene Instrumentation

Summary

This video explains various fulcruming techniques used in dental hygiene to enhance instrument control and prevent musculoskeletal strain. It covers intraoral fulcrums, including proper positioning for stability while working on different teeth surfaces, as well as advanced techniques like extraoral, reinforced, and opposite arch fulcrums. The video demonstrates how to maintain a modified pen grasp and pivot the instrument while fulcruming, ensuring optimal access and pressure for effective instrumentation. It highlights key methods for clinicians to improve efficiency and safety during dental procedures.

Takeaways

• 😀 Intra-oral fulcrums provide stabilization, allowing the hand to move as one unit and preventing musculoskeletal strain.
• 😀 It is recommended to fulcrum one to four teeth away from the tooth being instrumented to maintain stability.
• 😀 Always fulcrum on stable surfaces, such as the incisal edge, occlusal lingual, or occlusal facial line angles of the tooth.
• 😀 The modified pen grasp should be maintained during intra-oral fulcruming to ensure better control of the instrument.
• 😀 When using an intra-oral fulcrum, ensure proper hand positioning to avoid slippage caused by saliva in the oral cavity.
• 😀 Extra-oral fulcrums can be used for hard-to-reach areas by stabilizing on the patient's chin or cheek with a modified pen grasp.
• 😀 When utilizing an extra-oral fulcrum, the instrument handle should be held farther from the working end for better access.
• 😀 Reinforced fulcrums increase lateral pressure during instrumentation by placing the fulcrum on the same arch being worked on.
• 😀 A finger-on-finger fulcrum provides stability in dangerous areas by resting the non-dominant hand's index finger on the instrument's lower shank.
• 😀 Cross-arch fulcruming involves using the same arch but the opposite quadrant from the one being instrumented, providing additional stability.

Q & A

What is the purpose of using an intra-oral fulcrum in dental procedures?

An intra-oral fulcrum provides stabilization, allowing the hand to move as one unit, which helps in preventing musculoskeletal strain. It is the preferred method for improving precision and comfort during dental procedures.

How far away should the intra-oral fulcrum be from the tooth being instrumented?

The intra-oral fulcrum should be placed one to four teeth away from the tooth being instrumented.

Why is it important to maintain a proper fulcrum when working inside the oral cavity?

Maintaining a proper fulcrum is important because the inside of the oral cavity can become slippery due to saliva. The fulcrum should be placed on stable surfaces like the incisal edge, occlusal line, or facial/lingual angles of the tooth to ensure effective instrumentation.

What grip should be used when performing intra-oral fulcruming?

A modified pen grasp should be maintained while performing intra-oral fulcruming to ensure proper control and stability of the instrument.

What is an extra-oral fulcrum, and when should it be used?

An extra-oral fulcrum is used when stabilization is provided by placing the hand on the patient's chin or cheek. This method is used to enhance access to hard-to-reach areas in the mouth but requires careful stability to avoid injury to the patient or operator.

How should the instrument handle be held when using an extra-oral fulcrum?

When using an extra-oral fulcrum, the instrument handle should be held farther away from the working end while maintaining a modified pen grasp.

What is the purpose of using a reinforced fulcrum in dental procedures?

A reinforced fulcrum helps increase lateral pressure during instrumentation. It involves placing the fulcrum on the same arch being instrumented and using the non-dominant hand to stabilize the lower shank of the instrument.

What is the finger-on-finger fulcrum, and when is it used?

The finger-on-finger fulcrum is used to provide stability in difficult areas by placing the index finger of the non-dominant hand near the area being instrumented, with the fulcrum finger resting on that finger.

How does opposite arch fulcruming differ from other fulcrum techniques?

Opposite arch fulcruming involves placing the fulcrum on the opposite arch from the one being instrumented, providing additional stability and control during the procedure.

What is cross-arch fulcruming, and how is it performed?

Cross-arch fulcruming involves placing the fulcrum on the same arch being worked on but on the opposite quadrant. This technique offers added stability and control when working on challenging areas of the mouth.