Instrument Sharpening

Maintaining instrument sharpness helps you maintain your professional and clinical “edge”.  In a busy dental practice environment instrument sharpening is not often on the top of the “to-do” list.  One of the reasons that instrument sharpening may get neglected is because some may view it as time consuming. Also, some clinicians may not feel confident in their sharpening skills

The benefits of maintaining sharp instruments include; easier calculus removal, improved stroke control, reduced number of strokes, increased client comfort, and increased clinician comfort.

 A sharp cutting edge “bites” into the deposit, removing it more efficiently; whereas a dull cutting edge slides over the deposit, which results in burnished calculus.  A burnished deposit is one in which only the outer layers are removed. A burnished deposit feels smooth and it is difficult to distinguish between a smooth calculus-free root surface and a burnished deposit.  Clinicians may not immediately know that a deposit has been burnished until they see their client again for re-evaluation.  The presence of burnished calculus deposits compromises healing.

Tiny, controlled, upward alternating strokes are most desirable for successful calculus removal. These strokes are best achieved with a sharp instrument.

Many individuals benefit from the prudent clinicians ability to maintain his/her instruments.  Clinicians experience less fatigue and greater professional satisfaction from improved clinical results, dentists benefit from increased productivity and clients benefit from less time in the chair and a more comfortable appointment.

For clinicians that want to improve their instrument sharpening confidence there are some very effective systems with a quick learning curve.  These systems are; Hu-Friedy “It’s About Time System”, PDT Gleason Guide and the Hu-Friedy Sidekick. 

A basic comparison of some of these great systems is as follows…

Hu-Friedy “clock” system:  Is a manual stone system, in which the clinician angulates both the stone and the instrument to maintain the cutting edge.  A conventional clock is used as a reference for correct angulation.

PDT Gleason guide: Is a manual stone with an accompanying metal guide.   The guide helps to maintain consistent results.  Instruments are simply placed in the appropriate channel, which will ensure the correct sharpening angle for each instrument.

Hu-Friedy Sidekick:  This is a powered device in which the stone moves “automatically” and the instrument is placed in a guide. The guide helps to ensure correct sharpening angle for each instrument.

Regardless of what system you choose to maintain your instruments, make sure that you select one that does just that…”maintain” the integrity of them.  The last thing that you want is to warp your curettes to sickles.  Always bear in mind the design features of your instruments. A magnifying glass will help you get a closer look.  Sickles come to a point or tip and curettes come to a rounded toe.  Closely monitor the size of the instruments working end, as too small of a working end can be dangerous as it may break easily.  A good idea is to keep a package of never used instruments in your office and compare instruments in your current rotation to brand new ones.

Now you are one “sharp” RDH.

Peace, love and dental hygiene.

References:

Nield-Gehrig, Jill S.  Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation Sixth Edition.  Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008.

Darby, Michelle Leonardi, and Margaret M. Walsh. Dental Hygiene Theory and Practice Third Edition. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier, 2010.

Wilkins, Esther M., Clinical Practice of the Dental Hygienist 10^th Edition. Baltimore, MD: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009.

HuFriedy.  It’s About Time To Get On The Cutting Edge: A Self-Instructional Video and Manual for a Simpliefied Approach to Sharpening Periodontal Scalers and Curettes.

http://www.pdtdental.com/