Wednesday, 28 August 2024 – Oral and dental health is an integral part of overall well-being. One of the essential steps in maintaining oral hygiene is scaling. Scaling is the process of removing plaque and calculus from the supragingival and subgingival surfaces of the teeth. This procedure eliminates hardened mineral deposits (tartar) attached to the teeth or gumline, helping to protect teeth and gum tissues from periodontal diseases.
Recognizing the importance of scaling in maintaining dental hygiene, fifth-semester Bachelor’s in Oral Hygiene students participated in the Oral Hygiene Practicum III: Scaling Using Manual Scaler at the Dental Phantom Lab, DLC 2nd Floor. The practicum was supervised by lecturers, including drg. Elastria Widita, M.Sc., Ph.D., Leny Pratiwi Arie S, S.Kp.G., MDSc, Christia Aye W.V., S.Kp.G., MDSc, and others. Before starting the practicum, each student was required to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves, head caps, and lab coats/scrubs. The necessary tools included a diagnostic set, manual scaler, and dental phantom.
Manual scaling techniques require proper instrumentation stroke. instrumentation strokes. The instrumentation stroke refers to the movement of the working end of the periodontal instrument on the tooth surface. A good stroke consists of several stages, including activation of movement, orientation to the tooth surface, adaptation, and angulation.
The objectives of this practicum were to enable students to: Identify manual scalers correctly based on their functions, Hold manual scalers with the proper grip support, Apply the cutting edge of the manual scaler accurately, Effectively remove calculus using the manual scaler following the correct procedures.
Through this practicum, FKG UGM reinforces its commitment to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by incorporating practical training to improve community well-being, particularly by promoting Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being and Goal 4: Quality Education.
Contributor: Sri Pujiatun | Author: Al Haqi Insan Pratama
