This image represents a sleeve height that is too high in relation to the gingiva. This pocket depth reading will be recorded deeper than it should be. Make sure that before depressing the footswitch, that the sleeve has been properly positioned. This probing will record a 4mm pocket when the true depth is 3mm.

This image represents a sleeve height that is too low in relation to the gingiva. This pocket depth reading will be recorded shallower than it should be. This probing will record a 3mm pocket when the true depth is 4mm.

This image represents probing with a manual probe. Note that there are visual markings of 3mm, 6mm and 9mm. The Florida Probe tip also has these same markings. These markings are used as a visual guide to help inserting the tip into the sulcus. These blue markings also help search for deeper sites when "walking the sulcus".

This image represents a probing error where the tip accidentally gets caught at the top of the gingiva and does not accurately measure the pocket depth. The software will recognize that a 0.0mm pocket depth is an error and will ask you to "Please Probe this site again". Very low measurements of 0.2mm will also trigger the software to check for errors. At the end of the data collection cycle the software will take you to the specific sites and allow you to reprobe them to reduce the chance of under probing errors.

This image represents a tooth imperfection or possible calculus buildup that could result in under probing. The technique of "walking the sulcus" while watching the blue markings will help eliminate this possible error. The Probe's use of a minimum of 15 grams of constant force will also help eliminate this problem. Any time you are unsure that the tip is accurately reaching the bottom of the sulcus, you may wish to use the small button located on the Handpiece to override the constant force, locking the tip, allowing you to feel the bottom and increase the probing pressure. You would still need to release the button to record the measurement.

This image represents a slight side to side wiggling of the tip upon entry into the sulcus. This helps ensure that the tip finds it's way to the bottom of the sulcus. It also helps avoid the tip getting caught on a tooth imperfection or calculus buildup. Tip angulation is also important and should be done against the tooth surface and almost parallel with the angle of the tooth root.

Patient comfort is an important topic for every dental office. Periodontal probes can feel sharp and painful if too much force is applied during probing. Our constant force probe, when positioned correctly, measures the pocket depth with a minimum of force. The shape of the probe tip also affects patient comfort and although the tip of the Florida Probe appears smaller than a standard manual probe tip, it has the same 0.45mm diameter. Manual probes are manufactured from surgical steel and, for strength, are thicker toward the handle and taper down to a 0.45mm tip. The Florida Probe tip is made from implant-grade titanium, a stronger material that allows us to manufacture a tip with a constant 0.45mm diameter. This gives the Florida Probe tip an important advantage over the manual probe in that it is slightly flexible. The flexibility of the titanium allows the tip to gain better access around bulbous teeth and to get into deeper sites without having to pry back the gingiva. Another design feature of the Florida Probe tip is the flat bottom. Using a micro-polishing technique to eliminate any edges left by the manufacturing process, the Florida Probe tip has a flat bottom with a rounded edge that slips easily into the sulcus, but has a maximum surface area. Many manual probes have a "ball nosed" tip that is completely rounded, giving them less surface area and increasing their relative sharpness.

These five pictures help illustrate some of the problems due to improper handling of the Handpiece. The button allows you to lock the Probe tip to the handle and apply additional pressure. This is helpful when there is calculus build-up, tight gingiva or in making sure the tip is at the bottom of the sulcus. This can be useful in making sure that you are not caught on a calculus ledge or tooth defect. When recording the measurement, release the button and use the standard force that is applied. Accidentally positioning a finger against the button will add pressure to the Probe tip. This can cause discomfort as it is easy to increase force from 15 grams to 50 grams. Note that the top arm must also be allowed to pivot back fully or unwanted pressure will also be added directly to the Probe tip. Make sure that the tongue or lip of the patient does not depress the top arm. 15 grams of constant force is designed to help avoid underprobings, yet still provide accurate readings with a reasonable patient comfort.

Before a visit, you will be prompted to calibrate the Probe. Upon request, completely depress the Probe tip gently on a flat, sterile surface (such as the tip protector or mouth mirror) and then momentarily press the center foot switch and a "beep" is heard.

A second message will prompt you to extend the Probe tip completely and again press the center footswitch. Move the probe tip away from the hard surface so that the tip can be fully extended before pressing the footswitch.

If the Probe was properly calibrated, it will read zero when fully depressed and have a full extension of about 10.6mm. The chart will then appear and you may begin the visit. If the Pocket Depth values are invalid, it will prompt you to recalibrate the Probe.

This image demonstrates an improper attempt to calibrate the Probe. Note that the angle can cause the calibration to be off 0.2mm or more.

This image is a snapshot of the bottom right hand corner of the FP32 software. Note that the status bar is active after you have successfully calibrated the Probe. The tip length may vary slightly (10.0mm - 11.4mm). This Probe shows a 10.8mm tip length. If the status bar does not appear, you may need to click on the maximize button (top right hand corner) on the active window. This will reduce the image size on the screen so that the status bar is visible.

A tip should be replaced if:

To Remove the Old Tip

1) Pull up on the upper arm until the tip is completely withdrawn from the sleeve

2) Rotate the tip until the end (with 90 degree bend) aligns with the slot in the upper arm and comes free.

To Add the New Tip - Reverse the procedure stated in steps 1 & 2 above.

3) Insert the end (with 90 degree bend) into slot in the upper arm. Then pull up on the upper arm and rotate the tip until the tip end aligns with the sleeve.

• Steam sterilize the lightweight plastic Handpieces. Do not use a Chemclave or dry heat or damage will occur to the plastic parts.

• Immediately after use, clean the handpieces with a non-caustic solvent such as hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, detergent with water, or Biosonic by Whaledent. Caustic solvents can cause pitting and color change in the aluminum parts. Before sterilizing, rinse thoroughly in clean water to prevent sticky residues. Use a small brush (toothbrush) to remove visible residue build up. An ultrasonic cleaner is recommended for best results.

• During a long exam, mouthwash may be used as a lubricant to overcome sticky operation from drying blood and saliva.

• Check your Handpiece for smooth operation. With the Encoder not attached, the upper arm and tip should move freely when rocked side to side. If operation is not smooth, check for sticky residues or a bent tip. If the tip is bent, straighten or replace it. If a cleaning and/or a new tip does not improve operation, return it to Florida Probe Corp. for repair.

The Optical Encoder is the black module with cable that attaches to the Handpiece. This device must be properly tightened prior to calibration to work properly. If the Handpiece becomes partially unscrewed during the probing it can result in inaccurate readings. In most cases, the software will recognize this error and force you to recalibrate in the middle of an exam. Note that the Encoder is designed with a slip ring and even if it is properly tightened you can swivel the Encoder 360 degrees so that the cable is out of the way. If at any time you become concerned of inaccurate readings or a problem with the Encoder you can force it to recalibrate by clicking on the calibrate button from the toolbar in the periodontal page. The probe should always read 0.0mm when depressed on a flat surface (Tip Protector or mouth mirror).

Due to the long length of the Encoder able (10 feet) it is important to keep it protected. You will want to make sure that your chair does not accidentally roll over the cable. The Encoder performs the data transfer for the computer from the Handpiece and should be kept dry. You may wish to cover it with a plastic wrap, but do not autoclave or spray with disinfectants.

Note that this Handpiece is not properly tightened against the Encoder.

The 3 pedal Footswitch is designed to allow a solo operator to enter all necessary data to the computer without touching the keyboard and breaking asepsis. You will note that the two side pedals are higher than the center pedal and allow you to feel all three pedals without having to look at the pedal. A quick tap of the side switches will allow you to enter data (depending on the "Mode" you are in). Holding down either side pedal will allow the user to enter the "Moving Mode" so that you can back up or move forward to change data if you have made a mistake or want to move out of the normal data entry sequence. At any time you may view the Help screen associated with the Footswitch by holding down both side switches at once. This help screen will be different for each Mode you are entering data from.

Although the Footswitch is designed to tolerate rough conditions it is best to keep it dry and clean to avoid possible problems. Make sure that the cable to the switch is out of harms way and is not likely to have a chair roll over it.

The Footswitch cable has a standard RJ-11 phone style jack that plugs into the Computer Interface. If the gold contacts on the male plug ever get corroded they can be cleaned by simply inserting the jack into the female plug of the computer Interface (10-15 times).

Mouthwash as a Lubricant
For patients with heavy plaque buildup or patients with above average bleeding or suppuration, you may wish to use mouthwash as a lubricant. Place a small cup (2-3 oz) of mouthwash by your probing station. Occasionally dip the tip of the probe into the mouthwash and move the tip up and down to flush out any residue. Most mouthwashes contain a lubricant (often Glycerin) and promote smooth operation during extended probings.

Missing More Teeth
You're three minutes into a full mouth probing when you notice you forgot to mark tooth number 16 as missing. Pushing the "Delete" key while you are positioned on a tooth will remove the tooth at any point in the visit. Pressing the "Insert" key will re-insert a missing tooth. You can use the back end of the probe (encoder spring tube) to press the keys so as not to break asepsis.

"Walking the Sulcus"
(or "How To Have Your Cake and Eat It Too")
The button on the top of your handpiece allows you to increase the probing pressure by locking the tip. In most circumstances (95%) we would recommend not using the button, and relying on the constant force to do it's job. However, should you feel that the tip is not fully down or caught on a calculus ledge, push down on the button (it does not automatically lock, rather the harder you push the button the harder it locks). This act of holding down the button mimics the fell of a common probe and will allow you to "walk the sulcus." To take the reading you must release the button, return the sleeve to the gingival margin (constant force is now in use) and tap the center pedal ( recording the pocket depth). Constant force is great for the majority of the probing sites, the Florida Probe is the only probe in the market that offers the benefit of constant force without being locked in. The ability to "walk the sulcus" and insure accurate readings reminds us all that computers offer key advantages, but do not replace the dentist or hygienist.

I Want To See You Wiggle It
A small side-to-side wiggling of the probe tip upon entry into the sulcus has shown to be an improved technique for increasing accuracy and insuring smooth entry into the sulcus. Especially where tight gingiva or heavy plaque buildup occurs the wiggling technique reduces friction on the probe tip and allows the full strength of the constant force to accurately press into the sulcus

I Can't Take The Pressure
The constant force is set in the Optical Encoder and comes standard at 15 grams. You will notice that when a handpiece is not attached it runs freely with no pressure at all. Attaching the handpiece transfers the constant force to the tip and it is applied automatically during probing. Should you like to change the pressure we will be happy to adjust the Optical Encoder (no cost, just send it to us) to your desired pressure. We strongly recommend pressures from 15-25 grams. Researcher (with less regard for patient comfort, and increased focus on accuracy) prefer heavier pressures such as 20 grams, for the General Practitioner or Periodontist we recommend a lighter touch (increasing patient comfort at 15 grams, and relying on the button should you feel the need to increase pressure. Our new titanium tips (0.45mm diameter, flat bottom, slightly flexible) are greatly improved over previous designs. They allow for increased patient comfort, smoother operation, access to bulbous teeth and better interproximal access.

Tap Dancer
Our new smaller foot pedal design includes a heavier spring located in the center pedal. This heavier spring allows you to rest the full weight of your foot, and reduces foot fatigue. By using a small tap you can activate the pedal. Positioning your foot lower on the pedal will increase the weight and make the data entry faster and require less effort. This new spring and small design help to replace the older style pedal and the large heel rest previously used.

Accuracy Check
A blue Test Block was included with your system at the time of shipment. This small stair-like block is marked 3mm, 6mm, 9mm, 12mm and 15mm. With a groove in the middle, it is designed to test the accuracy of your probe readings. Insert the tip into the grove and bring the sleeve down firmly to the 3mm step. Your screen should indicate the pocket depth at 3.0mm. Continue to test the 6mm and 9mm mark. Please not that improper angulation ca result in 0.2mm differences. You will also note that when the tip comes down in a straight line with the Test Block grove, accurate readings of 3, 6, and 9mm occur. The 12mm and 15mm steps are used for testing the Disk and Stent Handpieces. Please note that Systems shipped after 06/15/00 include the test block molded into the tip protectors included with each Handpiece.

No Pain All Gain
As you are aware, every patient has a different pain threshold. Regardless of probe type (automated or common probe), sensitive patients often experience discomfort in the anterior of the mouth. For sensitive patients topical anesthetic is recommended before probing. You would also want to check that your finger was not accidentally pressing the button as it will increase probing pressure and could cause discomfort. Our newest Handpieces have been a great success and with the combination of 15-20 grams have given increased levels of patient comfort and accuracy. Recent feedback from Florida Probe users of the new lightweight style Handpiece have indicated positive responses from even their sensitive patients and often comment, "the patients tell me the Florida Probe is more comfortable than probing with common probe!"

CODE ON DENTAL PROCEDURES AND NOMENCLATURE