Which of the following is a stroke used in ultrasonic instrumentation?

• A. Tapping
• B. Pushing
• C. Raking
• D. Wiping

Answer: (A)

In ultrasonic instrumentation, the motion that best uses the vibrating tip to disrupt calculus is a tapping stroke. The tip vibrates at high frequency, and by making short, light taps against the tooth surface you let the energy do the work of breaking up deposits while keeping pressure minimal. This helps remove calculus efficiently without burnishing or damaging the tooth or tissue. The other motions—pushing, raking, or wiping—are not the standard ultrasonic stroke; they either apply more force or describe different manual techniques that don’t take advantage of the tip’s vibration.