Strategies for Effective Instrument Sharpening

Our instruments are sharpened once per month at best. What is the average lifespan of hand instruments that are used and sterilized at least twice per day?

By Mary Kaye Scaramucci, RDH, MS On Sep 6, 2017 0

QUESTION: Our instruments are sharpened once per month at best. What is the average lifespan of hand instruments that are used and sterilized at least twice per day?

ANSWER: Instruments are only designed to last a certain amount of time. However, the average lifespan of instruments is difficult to answer as it depends on many factors, including frequency of use. It takes approximately 15 strokes for an instrument to begin losing its sharp edge, whereas 45 strokes start to create a rounded cutting edge.¹ Instruments may need to be sharpened after every patient if you see a high volume of patients with significant calculus.

The timing of sharpening is important. If you are taking care to maintain consistently sharp instruments, then sharpening will not require much metal removal. If you wait until they are extremely dull, then you will need to spend more time sharpening to recreate the sharp edge. Many sharpening strokes will remove more of the metal. In addition, if the previous sharpening is not precise, then not only is a sharp edge required, the shape of the working end will need to be recontoured to look like the original instrument.²

With any sharpening technique, you need to be careful to control the pressure used when sharpening. If you have little to no control over the amount of pressure, the instrument can be ruined. Heavy pressure removes more metal at a faster pace. Losing the width or length of the instrument can result in breakage or the instrument being rendered ineffective for calculus removal. Purchasing instruments that maintain their edge longer may extend their lifespan for a certain amount of time. Instruments that never need sharpening are also an option; however, they must be thrown away when they become dull.

Retipping is not a safe alternative to sharpening or replacing instruments. Instruments have been precisely made by the manufacturer and retipping interferes with their design.³

Ultimately, there is no magic timeframe for instrument replacement, as there are too many factors that impact longevity. However, following are a few tips to lengthen the lifespan of instruments and maintain their efficacy.

Find a technique or device that you are comfortable using and that enables you to remain in control. You may need to take an instrument sharpening course to refresh your memory.
Sharpen at the first signs of dullness, so you don’t need to use heavy pressure or remove much metal to get a sharp edge.
Sharpen the entire cutting edge from heel to toe to maintain accurate instrument contour and shape. With curets, round the toe every fourth or fifth time they are sharpened.
Examine instruments frequently with loupes to look for thinning in the width or length. Keep a new instrument on hand to compare with old instruments. Instruments that do not maintain their contour and shape will be difficult to use. A research study supports replacing instruments when there is a 20% reduction in size.⁴
Stagger the purchase of new instruments so you are not replacing them all at once.

Hopefully, your employer understands the importance of replacing worn instruments in a timely manner.

References

Scaramucci MK. Sharpening 101. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.2007;5(5):18–20.
Gehrig JS, Sroda R, Saccuzzo D. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2017.
Scaramucci MK. Back to basics. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene.2011;9(9):40–42.
Moses O, Tal H, Artzi Z, Sperling A, Zohar R, Nemcovsky CE. Scanning electron microscope evaluation of two methods of resharpening periodontal curets: A comparative study. J Periodontol. 2003;74:1032–1037.

The Ask the Expert column features answers to your most pressing clinical questions provided by Dimensions of Dental Hygiene’s online panel of key opinion leaders, including: Jacqueline J. Freudenthal, RDH, MHE, on anesthesia; Nancy K. Mann, RDH, MSEd, on cultural competency; Claudia Turcotte, CDA, RDH, MSDH, MSOSH, on ergonomics; Van B. Haywood, DMD, and Erin S. Boyleston, RDH, MS, on esthetic dentistry; Michele Carr, RDH, MA, and Rachel Kearney, RDH, MS, on ethics and risk management; Durinda Mattana, RDH, MS, on fluoride use; Kandis V. Garland, RDH, MS, on infection control; Mary Kaye Scaramucci, RDH, MS, on instrument sharpening; Stacy A. Matsuda, RDH, BS, MS, on instrumentation; Karen Davis, RDH, BSDH, on insurance coding; Cynthia Stegeman, EdD, RDH, RD, LD, CDE, on nutrition; Olga A.C. Ibsen, RDH, MS, on oral pathology; Jessica Y. Lee, DDS, MPH, PhD, on pediatric dentistry; Bryan J. Frantz, DMD, MS, and Timothy J. Hempton, DDS, on periodontal therapy; Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, RDH, PhD, on pharmacology; and Caren M. Barnes, RDH, MS, on polishing. Log on to dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/asktheexpert to submit your question.

From Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. September 2017;15(9):54.