Llamado, Jiah Lucas, Feliz

Lozano, Remy Ann Miguelle Maranan,

Aira


ATRAUMATIC HANDLINGOF SOFT TISSUES

Soft tissues should be handled gently, delicately, as by a surgeon when operating. All
trauma should be avoided. Instruments should not be passed beyond the apical
foramen. Ripened judgment may help to prevent complication, but instruments
stops are more certain for beginners. To prevent the instruments from being passed
through the foramen, a mechanical stop or disc of rubber or plastic may be slipped
over the instrument and adjusted short of the tooth length from apex to incisal or
occlusal surface. In every instance, the radiograph should be carefully studied and
the operator should visualize the shape, length and outline of the canal before
passing through the tooth. When the endodontist has inserted the instrument into
the canal to the level assumed to be correct by measurement on the preoperative
radiograph, a radiograph is taken to determine whether it is correct, any adjustment
in the length of the root canal instrument to compensate for the difference between
the assumed and the actual lenth is now made, a subsequent instrumentation of the
canal is carried out in conformity with the revised length. In this way, periapical
trauma is minimized.


Other examples:

There should be a routine evaluation of the intraoral soft tissues. The gingiva and
mucosa should be dried, either with an air syringe of a 2x2-in. gauze. By retracting
the tongue and cheek, all of the soft tissue should be examined for any abnormalities
in color or texture. Any raised lesions or ulcerations should be documented and,
when necessary, evaluated with a biopsy or referral.

Intraoral swellings should be visualized and palpated to determine if they are
diffused or localized and if they are firm or fluctuant. These swellings may be
present in the attached gingivae, alveolar mucosa, mucobuccal fold, palate, or
sublingual. Other testing methods are required to determine if the etiology is
endodontic, periodontic or a combinations of these two or is of non-odontogenic
origin.

Proper Fulcrum. A fulcrum is a finger rest used to stabilize the clinicians hand
during periodontal instrumentation. The benefits or functions of these are: serves as
support beam for the hand during instrumentation. It enables the hand and
instrumentation to move as a unit as strokes are made against the tooth. It also
allows precise control of stroke pressure and length during periodontal
instrumentation.

Gentle hands. Gentle hands are one of the basic qualities a dentist should have. Not
just talking generally. But mostly zooming in on the proper care and respect for the
periodontium. Endodontics is a lengthy and very precise branch of dentistry, that
we might subconsciously neglect the proper care and handling of the soft tissues.
We must perform our task in a manner that still acts conservatively towards the
surrounding structures.


Source: Endodontic Practice 11
th
edition by