Maintaining sharp dental scalers, curettes, and Gracey instruments is crucial for several reasons: it reduces chair time, enhances patient comfort, decreases the strokes and pressure needed for calculus removal, improves efficiency, lowers the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, and prevents calculus burnishing.
Dental instruments inevitably dull with use. Each stroke against a hard surface slightly wears down the edges. As the instrument dulls, clinicians tend to compensate by applying more pressure, potentially leading to burnishing calculus and compromising ergonomics.
Paradise Dental Technologies (PDT) designs instruments that maintain their edges longer and are easier to sharpen. Their Gleason Guide Sharpening System simplifies the sharpening process.
The Gleason Guide Sharpening System offers a streamlined 3-step approach to dental instrument maintenance, designed to remove the guesswork and excessive effort from the sharpening process, encouraging more frequent sharpening. This guide explains how to use the Gleason Guide effectively.
The 3-Step Gleason Guide Sharpening Process:
The Gleason Guide utilizes a straightforward process:
- Stop: Position the back of the instrument blade against the stop on the guide. This ensures correct blade placement.
- Rest: Lower the instrument until the terminal shank rests against the guide bar. This helps maintain the proper angle during sharpening.
- Glide: Move the instrument across the sharpening stone in a smooth, gliding motion, applying light pressure. Consistent gliding ensures even sharpening.
The frequency of instrument sharpening should be determined by usage, not a fixed schedule (e.g., daily or weekly). Regular checks are essential. Two methods to check instrument sharpness are the visual glare test and the PDT PingRing.
Assessing Sharpness: Visual Glare Test and PingRing
-
Visual Glare Test: Observe how light reflects off the junction of the face and lateral side of the blade. A reflection indicates the instrument needs sharpening, while no reflection suggests it’s sharp. This test visually confirms the edge’s condition.
-
PDT PingRing: Place the blade against the PingRing at the angle you would use against a tooth. Apply normal pressure using your fulcrum. If the blade “grabs” the surface, producing an audible “ping,” the edge is sharp. If it slides, resharpening is needed. The PingRing gives tactile and auditory feedback on sharpness.
Gleason Guide Sharpening Stones and Considerations
The Gleason Guide Sharpening System uses ceramic sharpening stones, which are harder than traditional stones and don’t require oil or water. This dry sharpening method is both convenient and time-saving. Any scaler, curette, or Gracey instrument can be sharpened with the Gleason Guide.
However, be aware of instrument coatings designed to maintain edges, which can be compromised by sharpening. Consult the manufacturer to ensure sharpening won’t damage the instrument.
Maintaining sharp dental instruments is critical for effective and ergonomic dental hygiene practices. The Gleason Guide offers a user-friendly solution for sharpening, improving efficiency, and preserving instrument life.
For further details on PDT instruments and instructional videos on instrument sharpening techniques, visit PDT’s website.
