Hygiene Atlas

Atlas · Plate XI · Instrumentation · 05

Probes and explorers

Probes measure pockets at six sites per tooth with light force of about 10-20 g, walking in small steps and tilting slightly under the contact. Designs include the Williams, UNC-15, the curved Nabers for furcations and the ball-tipped WHO probe. Explorers detect calculus and margins: the Shepherd hook for supragingival work, the ODU 11/12 for subgingival surfaces.

High-yield facts · 7

  1. Probe readings are taken at 6 sites per tooth: DF, F, MF, DL, L, ML.T3
  2. Probing force: about 10-20 g (light); walk in 1-2 mm strokes.T3
  3. Probe placement interproximally: tilt slightly (about 10-15 degrees) to reach under the contact (col area).T3
  4. Furcation probing with a Nabers probe: maxillary molars from buccal, mesial (from palatal) and distal (from palatal); mandibular molars from buccal and lingual.T3
  5. Explorer types: Shepherd hook #23 (supragingival, caries, margins), ODU 11/12 (subgingival, all surfaces), pigtail/cowhorn #2 and #3A (shallow pockets, proximal), Orban 17/20 (anterior, deep narrow pockets).T3
  6. An explorer is held with a light grasp and pressure for maximum tactile sensitivity.T3
  7. Do not "pick" at white spot lesions with an explorer; probing them can break the surface and start cavitation.S37

Facts are written in our own words; each tag links to its source. Values marked "sources vary" differ between references, so check the one your program uses.