Dental Instrument Sharpening- Some Tips to Keep Your Instruments Sharp

Instruments tend to get dull with time. Dull or chipped instruments make the procedure slow and less efficient. Sharper your scaler, the more productive you will be. When a dull instrument is used on a patient, it causes the operator to exert more pressure on the tool, this causes discomfort for both, the clinician and the patient. There is also a danger of instrument slipping. If instruments are worn out, they are likely to slip more. Sometimes, with a dull or worn-out instrument, breakage may be the result.

Improper sharpening of Dental tools also occurs. This compromises the instrument's ability to perform well and also may change the tip design. Dull scalers and curettes will only glide on the tooth’s surface, and dull elevators and luxating elevators will never be able to cut the periodontal ligament as efficiently. Hence, overused and worn instruments will only cause the clinician to apply greater force. Excessive force is not only bad for the patient but is harmful to the operator as well. The operator in these circumstances risks causing strain on neck, shoulder, and arm muscles. Sharp instruments, on the other hand, reduce strain and make the procedure efficient.

How to Sharpen Your Dental Instruments?

There are many techniques to sharpen your dental instruments. In some, the stone is fixed and the instrument is moved. In some, the instrument is held in place and the sharpening stone is moved. Whichever technique is used, the angulation of the instrument is maintained at 70 to 80 degrees internally. The angle is between the sole of the working tip and its lateral surface.

Sharpening Gracey Curettes:

When dealing with Gracey curette sharpening, the template has to be set at 20 degrees to accommodate the design of the instrument. The sharpening template is folded over the counter. The instrument is held against the counter side, so its distal shank is aligned vertically. The tip of the instrument is in the lower position and placed where the angles meet. The working tip is kept perpendicular to the table, facing the operator. The stone is then placed against the blade of the instrument, at an angle indicated on the template. It is then moved upwards and downwards against the blade while maintaining a correct angle. End sharpening with a down stroke. Rough edges are taken care of with a quick flick of the stone.

Sharpening the Elevators:

Elevators and Luxating elevators require sharpening too. The tips of the blades of these instruments require constant care as these instruments are regularly used in the dental office. To sharpen them, these tools are held normally but rotated at an angle of 180 degrees. The index finger rests at the concave surface of the instrument. The last 0.5 to 1 mm of the instrument is put on the stone with the instrument tip at 45 degrees. The concave surface faces the wall closest to the operator's opposite hand.

Frontal wrist rocking motion comes into use while the instrument tip is run against the sharpening stone. Rotation of the instrument until the instrument's concave surface faces the opposite wall is the normal procedure. This process is repeated in the opposite direction, not removing the instrument's tip from the stone.

The frequency with which the instruments are sharpened depends on the frequency of use. If the instruments are maintained and repaired with care, then they can be used for a longer period of time.

How to Know if the Instruments need Sharpening?

There are many ways to know if the instrument has started to dull. If the tool reflects light, it needs sharpening. Sharp blades do not reflect light. Another method for testing is, to check for a bite on your test stick. If the instrument does not bite, it is dull.

Should you Retip Your Instruments?

Re-tipping of instruments is not recommended as it causes the removal of the “turner”, not just the tip. It also involves forceful removal of the working end and force-fitting its replacement. This causes the generation of cracks in the handle that can then accumulate debris and fluid. The cracks make it harder to sterilize the instruments. Also, after retipping, the resulting instrument then has a changed design and a compromised working ability. According to the FDA, all retipped instruments should be labeled, so the end-user knows how to use the instrument.