Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The periodontal probe is specifically designed for probing in periodontal treatments. It is a slender instrument with a calibrated measuring tip, which allows dental professionals to assess the depths of periodontal pockets around each tooth. This measurement is critical for diagnosing the severity of periodontal disease, as it helps determine the level of attachment loss and the health of the periodontal tissues. The use of a probe aids in forming a treatment plan, as it provides information necessary for evaluating the extent of periodontal disease and monitoring changes over time.

In contrast, scaling tools are primarily used for removing plaque and calculus from the tooth surfaces, rather than for measuring pocket depths. An explorer is an instrument designed to detect surface irregularities, caries, and calculus that may not be visible to the naked eye but is not used for probing pocket depths. Lastly, a curette is used for scaling and for root planing to remove subgingival deposits but does not play a role in probing for pocket depths. Thus, the periodontal probe stands out as the essential instrument for probing in periodontal treatments.