INSTRUMENT
SHARPENING
Jenny Dennings, RDH, BSDH
October 9, 2012
Directions
• You will need PowerPoint 2010 to work
• You will need internet to view the video
• The arrows will take you to the next page
• The home button with the “I” on it will take you to the
index page
• You must complete each question to move to the next
section
• This PowerPoint was created to review your sharpening
techniques and teach you Sharpening Essentials through
the Edge System.
Index
Objectives
Advantages
Key Terms
Instrument Design
Armamentarium
Method and Technique
Testing for Sharpness
Sharpening Essential Video Link
Different sharpening systems
• You have recently learned how to use the D.I.S.C.
sharpening system. We will not refer to the D.I.S.C.
system in this presentation. Another basic way to
sharpen your instruments is to use the Edge System:
Sharpening Essentials.
Objectives
• List the benefits of using instruments with sharp cutting
•
•
•
•
edges for periodontal instrumentation
Define key terms
Describe design characteristics to be maintained of sickle
scalers, universal curets, and area specific curets
Differentiate visually between sharp cutting edge and dull
cutting edge
Demonstrate a method of determining if a cutting edge is
sharp
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Advantages
• Less time for the sharpening procedures
• Easier calculus removal
• Improved stroke control
• Reduced number of strokes
• Increased patient comfort and satisfaction
• Reduced clinician fatigue
• Less re-contouring to maintain a sharp instrument
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Which of the following is not an outcome
of using sharp instruments?
A fewer number of instrumentation strokes
needed to remove a deposit
Less strain placed on the clinician's
fingers, hand, and arm
Reduced likelihood of an instrument stick
to the clinician's fingers
Increased chance of trauma to the soft
tissues from the sharp edge
Key Terms
Sharp cutting
edge
• A sharp line that is formed where the lateral sides meet the
face. There is no width.
Dull cutting edge
• When the metal forming the sharp line is worn away giving
it width with a rounded surface.
Visual evaluation
of sharpness
• Using a bright light to check for light reflection. A dull
surface is able to reflect light. A sharp surface will not
reflect light.
Tactile evaluation
of sharpness
• Placing the cutting edge a sharpening test stick to feel if
the instrument slides or catches.
Sharpening test
stick
• A plastic or acrylic stick made for testing instruments.
Key Terms continued…
Straight
cutting edges
• Using birds eye view to see if the lateral
sides are straight. i.e. universal curet
Curved
cutting edges
• Using birds eye view to see if the lateral
sides are curved. i.e. area specific curet
Limited uselife
• If instruments are used and kept sharp
they will eventually need to be replaced.
Sharpening
stone
• Natural or synthetic, abrasive particles,
removes metal from the instrument.
Which of the following terms is defined as
"the pointed junction of the instrument
face and lateral surface"?
Self-angulated edge
Dull cutting edge
Sharp cutting edge
Wire cutting edge
INSTRUMENT DESIGN
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Review of Instruments in Cassette
Sickle Scalers
Universal
Curets
Areas Specific
Curets
Anterior
sickle
(5/33)
Columbia
13/14
Gracey 1/2
Posterior
sickle
(204s)
Columbia
4R/4L
Gracey
11/12
Barnhart
5/6
Gracey
13/14
Basic Instrument Design
A – Handle, B – Shank, C – Working end
Sickle Scaler (design of working end)
face
Lateral
side
Sickle Scaler Characteristics
Pointed back
Pointed tip
Triangular in cross section
Two cutting edges
Face is perpendicular to lower shank
Universal Curet (design of working end)
Universal Curet Characteristics
Round back
Round toe
Two cutting edges
Parallel cutting edges
Semi-circular in cross section
Face is at a 90° angle to the lower shank
Area Specific Curet (design of working end)
Area Specific Curet Characteristics
Round back
Round toe
Semi-circular in cross section
One working cutting edges
Face is at a 70° angle to the lower
shank
This instrument is triangular shape in
cross section?
Sickle Scaler
Universal Curet
Area Specific Curet
INSTRUMENT DESIGN
I
Review of Instruments in Cassette
Sickle Scalers
Universal
Curets
Areas Specific
Curets
Anterior
sickle
(5/33)
Columbia
13/14
Gracey 1/2
Posterior
sickle
(204s)
Columbia
4R/4L
Gracey
11/12
Barnhart
5/6
Gracey
13/14
Basic Instrument Design
A – Handle, B – Shank, C – Working end
Sickle Scaler (design of working end)
face
Lateral
side
Sickle Scaler Characteristics
Pointed back
Pointed tip
Triangular in cross section
Two cutting edges
Face is perpendicular to lower shank
Universal Curet (design of working end)
Universal Curet Characteristics
Round back
Round toe
Two cutting edges
Parallel cutting edges
Semi-circular in cross section
Face is at a 90° angle to the lower shank
Area Specific Curet (design of working end)
Area Specific Curet Characteristics
Round back
Round toe
Semi-circular in cross section
One working cutting edges
Face is at a 70° angle to the lower
shank
This instrument’s face is tilted in relation to
the lower shank?
Sickle Scaler
Universal Curet
Area Specific Curet
INSTRUMENT DESIGN
I
Review of Instruments in Cassette
Sickle Scalers
Universal
Curets
Areas Specific
Curets
Anterior
sickle
(5/33)
Columbia
13/14
Gracey 1/2
Posterior
sickle
(204s)
Columbia
4R/4L
Gracey
11/12
Barnhart
5/6
Gracey
13/14
Basic Instrument Design
A – Handle, B – Shank, C – Working end
Sickle Scaler (design of working end)
face
Lateral
side
Sickle Scaler Characteristics
Pointed back
Pointed tip
Triangular in cross section
Two cutting edges
Face is perpendicular to lower shank
Universal Curet (design of working end)
Universal Curet Characteristics
Round back
Round toe
Two cutting edges
Parallel cutting edges
Semi-circular in cross section
Face is at a 90° angle to the lower shank
Area Specific Curet (design of working end)
Area Specific Curet Characteristics
Round back
Round toe
Semi-circular in cross section
One working cutting edges
Face is at a 70° angle to the lower
shank
In the picture below, which is the view of
the area-specific curet?
ARMAMENTARIUM
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Armamentarium
Personal Protective
equipment
Gloves
Glasses
Mask
Armamentarium continued
Good light
Stable work surface
Magnifying glass
Sharpening stone
EdgeMate Disposable Chairside Sharpening Guide
Sterile instruments
Gauze
Where should instrument sharpening
should be performed?
In a well-lighted work area in the treatment room
In a room set aside exclusively for instrument
sharpening
In the dental materials laboratory
On the bracket table in the treatment room
ARMAMENTARIUM
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Armamentarium
Personal Protective
equipment
Gloves
Glasses
Mask
Armamentarium continued
Good light
Stable work surface
Magnifying glass
Sharpening stone
EdgeMate Disposable Chairside Sharpening Guide
Sterile instruments
Gauze
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is
required while sharpening instruments.
True
False
METHOD AND TECHNIQUE
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Method
• Stationary instrument to moving stone method
• Using the Disposable Chairside Sharpening Guide
• -Or• Make a permanent guide with a marker and protractor
• The instrument is held stationary
• The stone is moved up and down at a constant 110°
110
110
Disposable Chairside Sharpening Guide
Position of the Sickle Scaler
Position the instrument face
parallel to the countertop.
When positioned with the face
parallel to the countertop the lower
shanks of the sickle is
perpendicular to the countertop
Position of the Universal Curet
Position the instrument face parallel
to the countertop
When positioned with the face
parallel to the countertop the lower
shanks of the universal curet
instruments are perpendicular to the
countertop
Positioning the Area Specific
For area specific
curets the face is
parallel to the
countertop, but the
lower shank is not
perpendicular to the
countertop
Divide the cutting edge into three
imaginary sections
Sharpen in sections
Adapt the cutting edges to
only a portion of the cutting
edge at a time to maintain
cutting edges
Start at the heel and work to
the toe
Recontouring
Recontour toe
and back to
keep smooth
round surfaces
Removing Metal Burs
Sharpening can create
metal burs that come
from cutting edge. This
can result in gouging
the cementum. Burs can
be avoided by finishing
with a down stroke
Position the instrument face of the
Universal Curet
Align with the dotted line on the sharpening guide
Align sharpening stone with the solid line
Adapt the stone to the heel third of the cutting edge
Instruments with two cutting edges
Both sides are sharpened the same way.
Sharpen the toe
Recontour the back
Metal burs projecting from the cutting
edge can usually be prevented during
sharpening by _____.
Positioning the face parallel to the
countertop
Stabilizing the hand holding the
instrument on a countertop
Finishing a series of sharpening
strokes on a down stroke
Holding the stone on the lower
third of the stone
METHOD AND TECHNIQUE
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Method
• Stationary instrument to moving stone method
• Using the Disposable Chairside Sharpening Guide
• -Or• Make a permanent guide with a marker and protractor
• The instrument is held stationary
• The stone is moved up and down at a constant 110°
110
110
Disposable Chairside Sharpening Guide
Position of the Sickle Scaler
Position the instrument face
parallel to the countertop.
When positioned with the face
parallel to the countertop the lower
shanks of the sickle is
perpendicular to the countertop
Position of the Universal Curet
Position the instrument face parallel
to the countertop
When positioned with the face
parallel to the countertop the lower
shanks of the universal curet
instruments are perpendicular to the
countertop
Positioning the Instrument
For area specific
curets the face is
parallel to the
countertop, but the
lower shank is not
perpendicular to the
countertop
Divide the cutting edge into three
imaginary sections
Sharpen in sections
Adapt the cutting edges to
only a portion of the cutting
edge at a time to maintain
cutting edges
Start at the heel and work to
the toe
Recontouring
Recontour toe
and back to
keep smooth
round surfaces
Removing Metal Burs
Sharpening can create
metal burs that come
from cutting edge. This
can result in gouging
the cementum. Burs can
be avoided by finishing
with a down stroke
Position the instrument face of the
Universal Curet
Align with the dotted line on the sharpening guide
Align sharpening stone with the solid line
Adapt the stone to the heel third of the cutting edge
Instruments with two cutting edges
Both sides are sharpened the same way.
Sharpen the toe
Recontour the back
When sharpening with a stationary
instrument and moving stone, the stone is
angled at _____ degrees.
70
90
110
120
METHOD AND TECHNIQUE
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Method
• Stationary instrument to moving stone method
• Using the Disposable Chairside Sharpening Guide
• -Or• Make a permanent guide with a marker and protractor
• The instrument is held stationary
• The stone is moved up and down at a constant 110°
110
110
Disposable Chairside Sharpening Guide
Position of the Sickle Scaler
Position the instrument face
parallel to the countertop.
When positioned with the face
parallel to the countertop the lower
shanks of the sickle is
perpendicular to the countertop
Position of the Universal Curet
Position the instrument face parallel
to the countertop
When positioned with the face
parallel to the countertop the lower
shanks of the universal curet
instruments are perpendicular to the
countertop
Positioning the Instrument
For area specific
curets the face is
parallel to the
countertop, but the
lower shank is not
perpendicular to the
countertop
Divide the cutting edge into three
imaginary sections
Sharpen in sections
Adapt the cutting edges to
only a portion of the cutting
edge at a time to maintain
cutting edges
Start at the heel and work to
the toe
Recontouring
Recontour toe
and back to
keep smooth
round surfaces
Removing Metal Burs
Sharpening can create
metal burs that come
from cutting edge. This
can result in gouging
the cementum. Burs can
be avoided by finishing
with a down stroke
Position the instrument face of the
Universal Curet
Align with the dotted line on the sharpening guide
Align sharpening stone with the solid line
Adapt the stone to the heel third of the cutting edge
Instruments with two cutting edges
Both sides are sharpened the same way.
Sharpen the toe
Recontour the back
Only the toe (tip) 1/3 of the working end is
sharpened when dull.
True
False
TESTING FOR
SHARPNESS
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Tactile evaluation
The preferred way is with a test stick
Visual evaluation
Sharp cutting edge
Dull cutting edge
When evaluated visually, a sharp cutting
edge will _____.
Not reflect light
Sparkle like a diamond
Reflect light
Appear as a long shiny line
Video to review:
Edge Sharpening System
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(I originally had the video in the PowerPoint but the file was to big.)
Summary
• Becoming proficient in the Sharpening Essential
Technique will save dental hygienists time, money and
energy.
• A sharpening technique should remove a minimum
amount of metal from the instrument and maintain the
original design characteristics of the working-end
• You are required to complete two hands on proficiencies
in clinic during the semester.
THANK YOU!
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Bibliography
• Jill S. Neild-Gehrig, R. M. (2008). Fundamentals of
Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root
Instrumentation. Philadelphia: Lipponcot, Williams, and
Wilkins.