How to Sharpen Dental Instruments
Dental instruments must be sharp in order to be effective. According to a Free-Ed.net article provided by the Academy of Health Sciences at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, "A sharp instrument decreases the chance of traumatizing the patient's soft tissue or of operator fatigue, and, therefore, greatly increases efficiency." Unfortunately, motorized sharpening systems like the popular "EdgeMaker" model can cost hundreds of dollars. However, you can get the same results by using a manual sharpening stone and following some basic steps.
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Things You'll Need
- Honing oil
- Carborundum stone
- Gauze
- Mandrel-mounted ruby or carborundum stone
- Water
- Ultrasonic machine
- Autoclave
Instructions
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Sharpening Flat Edges
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1
Apply honing oil to the surface of a flat carborundum sharpening stone--carborundum stones are also called "Arkansas stones." Oil is important to prevent metal fragments from sticking to the stone as well as reducing heat that friction causes.
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2
Place flat instruments on the stone, so the dull surface is perfectly aligned with the stone's surface. If you tilt the instrument, so it is pivoted to one side or the other, you will not get a clean, well-sharpened edge.
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3
Slide the flat instrument forward to sharpen it. When you reach the end of the stone, lift the instrument.
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4
Inspect the blade, and test it by cutting some spare gauze. If it is still not sharp enough, place it on the surface again and slide it forward again until the edge is sufficiently sharp.
Sharpening Curved Edges
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5
Apply honing oil to a cylindrical ruby or carborundum stone. A stone that is mounted on a mandrel will provide the best stability and easiest sharpening; however, you can also use a loose stone if you're careful to hold it steady.
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6
Press the curved edge of the dental tool against the mounted stone, allowing as much of the instrument's blade to make contact with the stone as possible.
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7
Pull the instrument away from the stone, following the curve of the blade and making contact with the stone for as long as possible.
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8
Test the blade on some spare gauze. Repeat as necessary until the blade is sufficiently sharp.
Cleaning Up
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9
Rinse off the sharpening stones under running water. This is important to remove excess oil and metal particles. If the oil is left to evaporate on its own, the metal pieces trapped in the oil will stick to the stone.
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10
Place the stones somewhere where they can air dry. Do not dry off the stones with a towel, or you risk towel fibers getting caught on the stone's rough surface.
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11
Remove excess metal particles on the instruments by placing them in your dental office's ultrasonic instrument-cleaning machine (See Resources.). Keep the tools in the ultrasonic machine for at least 30 minutes. An ultrasonic cleaning machine is essentially a tub of water or specialized cleaning solution that vibrates at ultrasonic speeds, knocking debris from any instruments placed in the liquid. While this method is preferred, you can also rinse the tools under running water if your office do not have an ultrasonic instrument cleaner.
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12
Autoclave the instruments to resterilize them just as you normally would after using the tools on a patient.
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