Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice

Which instrument is primarily used to clean debris off a tooth's surface?

1. Probe

2. Hand scaler

3. Curette

4. Explorer

The correct answer is: Hand scaler

The hand scaler is primarily designed for the removal of calculus and debris from the tooth's surface. It features a sharpened metal edge that allows for effective scraping and cleaning, making it ideal for tasks such as scaling and debriding. In the context of dental hygiene, this instrument is essential for maintaining oral health by ensuring that plaque and tartar are adequately removed, promoting healthier gums and teeth. While probing instruments, curettes, and explorers serve important functions in dental assessments and diagnoses, they are not specifically tailored for the intensive cleaning of the tooth's surface. Probes are primarily used to assess periodontal pockets and measure the depth of gum tissues; curettes are designed for subgingival scaling and root planing, resonating well with deeper gum pockets; and explorers are utilized for detection of cavities or irregularities in tooth surface. Each of these instruments has its place in dental hygiene, but the hand scaler is the primary tool for cleaning and removing debris from the tooth's surface effectively.