INSTRUMENT SHARPENING – SCALERS & CURETTES CUTTING EDGE FACE
ROUNDING THE TOE OF A CURETTE 1. Stabilise the instrument. 2. Place stone at a 45° angle to the face. 3. Use up and down strokes, and rotate the stone around the toe.
TIP
INSTRUMENT DESIGN TO CUTTING EDGE CONSIDER WHEN SHARPENING BACK
LATERAL SURFACE
FACE
TIP
STRAIGHT SICKLE SCALER
BACK LATERAL SURFACE
90°
TERMINAL SHANK
CUTTING EDGE FACE TIP
CUTTING EDGE BACK
FACE
LATERAL SURFACE
90°TERMINAL SHANK
TIP BACK
CUTTING EDGE
LATERAL SURFACE
FACE TIP
90°
BACK
CURVED SICKLE SCALER TERMINAL SHANK
LATERAL SURFACE
CUTTING EDGE
FACE
TOE
SHARPENING THE FACE OF DENTAL INSTRUMENTS
LATERAL SURFACE
TERMINAL SHANK
FACE
TERMINAL SHANK
90° CUTTING EDGE
TIP
Sharpening the face of periodontal instruments is only recommended for removing a roughened edge. The cutting edge should be restored by reducing the lateral side. Excessive grinding of the face weakens the blade. To sharpen the face of curettes and curved sickles, use a conical or cylindrical stone (SS299, SS2 or SSKC).
90°
CUTTING EDGE
BACK
BACK
TOE
FACE
LATERAL SURFACE
90°
LATERAL SURFACE
BACK
CUTTING EDGE
UNIVERSAL CURETTE TOE
FACE
1. Stabilise the instrument. 2. Place stone at junction of face and shank.
90° TERMINAL
BACK LATERAL SURFACE
3. Roll stone across the face, moving toward the tip/toe.
SHANK
CUTTING EDGE
4. Use a few strokes and light, even pressure.
70°
LATERAL SURFACE
90°
FACE
TOE
BACK 70°
GRACEY CURETTE
CUTTING EDGE TOE
90° To sharpen the face of a straight sickle, use a flat stone.
FACE
BACK LATERAL SURFACE
1. Apply stone to entire facial surface. 2. Move the stone across the face using a back/forth motion. 3. Use a few strokes and light, even pressure.
Use the Arkansas stones for everyday instrument maintenance, and the Ceramic and I-Stones for recontouring. Most populars stones: SS3C, SS4
K4
70°