Maintain Your Edge

The DENTSPLY Guide

to Sharpening Your
Hand Instruments

With Compliments of
 Sharpening DENTSPLY Ash®
Instruments Scalers and Curettes

DENTSPLY Ash Instruments are delivered to you with factory-sharp

cutting edges. These will remove calculus with minimum effort and
will cause the least possible trauma to the tooth, root or gingival
surface.

Gradually, this precisely angled cutting edge will be dulled by

contact with hard tooth enamel and sterilisation, making calculus
removal harder. This will mean the procedure takes longer, and
could result in burnishing calculus. The instrument could also
damage the gingiva by skidding along the surface instead of
cutting.

Keeping your Ash periodontal instruments sharp is simple and takes

little time. By following a simple sharpening routine, your
instruments will reward you with a long trouble-free working life.

at Ash Instruments,
®

we have everything covered TIP…

Four leading brands offering something for everyone... You don’t need to sharpen tungsten
carbide (TC)-tipped instruments
(most Ash Instrument hoes have TC tips).

Ash Instruments - a name you can trust

®
ASHAD0206

DENTSPLY Ash® Instruments I Hamm Moor Lane I Addlestone I Weybridge I Surrey KT15 2SE 3
Telephone +44(0)1932 853422 I www.ash-instruments.com I www.dentsply.com
 Introducing the Cleaning and
Sharpening Equipment Sterilisation

The Ash Sharpening Kit comes supplied with the following equipment: Always clean instruments before sharpening. Sterilisation instructions
for all Ash hand instruments can be found at the end of this booklet.
1. Test Stick – This plastic rod is easy to use for testing instrument Your sharpening kit can be kept clean with soap and water.
sharpness.

2. Sharpening Oil – A light mineral oil, used to lubricate the

sharpening stone and carry away metal debris. Getting started

3. Flat Sharpening Stone – The Ash Sharpening kit contains a

The objective of sharpening is to maintain the original blade contour
smooth, man-made stone that will create as fine an edge as an
created by the factory technician. With a little practice, any shape of
Arkansas stone, yet is long-lasting and hard enough to re-shape
cutting edge can be sharpened successfully.
blunt instruments.

4. Sharpening Rod – A 3.5mm stone rod, used to give a final
edge to curved blades.
You may also find that a magnifying glass or, ideally, a x10 Loupe
will help you see the instrument’s cutting edge and angles you have
created.
To begin sharpening, you need to understand the instrument shape
and where the correct cutting edges are. You may find it useful to
examine an unused instrument at this stage.
To assess the instrument, view the cutting edge in good light. This
edge will appear as a bar of light when blunt, but appear to have no
width when sharp. Magnification will help you identify this more
easily as you are learning.

TIP…
Always test all parts of the cutting edge
with the Test Stick.

4 5
 Two grips to use Sharpening different
when sharpening instrument styles

The following pages demonstrate how to sharpen

Pen Grip six different instrument tips: CAUTION…
TIP…
Hold your forefinger on the Sharpening
Sharpen with a flat
neck of the instrument with • Jaquette 1 Sickle Scaler instruments
stone on a level
eventually alters the
your thumb behind, surface, to reduce • H6 Sickle Scaler
the risk of cutting shape and reduces
and handle • McFarlane 1 Push Scaler
your hand should the size of the
resting between
the instrument, or • Columbia 13 Universal Curette blade. The
the first joint of the
stone, slip. instrument
• Gracey 9 Dedicated Curette
middle finger. will also
• Excavator 126 (American Pattern 17) weaken after
Palm Grip repeated
The principles used in sharpening these tips
sharpening, and
Take the instrument between your can be applied to any similar scaler or curette.
may collapse
forefinger and thumb, with the
during clinical use.
rest of the instrument TIP… Pictures are shown to demonstrate the
Make no more
disappearing in the palm of approximate angles you need to hold the
than three strokes
your hand. instrument at. Please note that in most pictures, the stone is not
at any one time;
check and repeat steadied by another hand, and no mineral oil is used on the stone for
if more sharpening image clarity.
is necessary.
To begin
sharpening, TIP…
For economy, Ceramicolor® and Flexichange®
place the stone about 15cm (6
tips can be bought individually, should you
inches) in front of you and hold it with one hand to steady it. need to replace just one tip on any instrument.

6 7
 Jaquette 1 H6
Sickle Scaler Sickle Scaler

All sickle scalers have blades that have a trapezoid cross section. This tip has the same, nearly
triangular, blade cross-section
Back
30° angle
as the Jacquette 1, but it has a
much longer cutting edge and the blade is offset.
Lateral face Lateral face

As before, sharpening is only performed on the lateral faces, the top

edge should not need to be touched.
Cutting Edge Cutting Edge
Top Face 1. Taking the instrument in the Pen Grip, turn the blade so that the
hook faces left (i.e. so the offset is uppermost).
Sharpening is performed on both lateral faces; the top face
should not need to be touched. 2. Angle the handle to 30° to the stone, so that the lateral face lies
flat against it.
1. Taking the instrument in the Pen Grip, place one TIP…
of the lateral faces at about 30° to the stone. Make the final stroke 3. Move the face forward and backward against the stone, putting
in the pull direction pressure on it in a pull direction.
2. Move the face forward and backward against (into the cutting
edge) to remove 4. Turn the instrument over, move the stone to the edge of the table or
the stone, putting pressure on it in a pull
any wire edge. bench you are working on and lower the angle to 10° to the stone.
direction.
5. Again, move the face forward and backward against the stone,
3. Turn the instrument over and perform the same action
putting pressure on it in a pull direction.
with the other lateral face.
6. Test the tip for
4. Test the tip for sharpness (if there sharpness, removing
is evidence of a rough “wire” any evidence of a wire
edge, remove this using the edge with the stone rod.
stone rod in a rolling motion). 10° angle

8 9
 McFarlane 1 Columbia 13
Push Scaler Universal Curette

As push scalers are used in the opposite direction to all other scalers, Universal curettes have blades at 90° to
they are also sharpened differently. the shank. The toe is rounded and the lateral
30° angle
faces are cut back so that both have cutting edges.
1. Take the instrument in the Pen Grip, and place the blade
flat to the stone. 1. Taking the instrument
in a Pen Grip, turn
Top Face
2. Angle the handle to 45° to the stone. the blade so that the Cutting Edge Cutting Edge

hook faces left. If Lateral face Lateral face

3. Push the instrument forward and back over TIP… Back
Take care when viewed from the side,
the stone, but apply pressure when pushing
positioning the hand the curved portion towards the toe will face downwards.
the instrument away. holding the stone so
2. Angle the blade to about 30° from the stone.
that you will not
4. Test the tip for sharpness and remove any injure yourself should 3. Move the blade forwards and backwards over the stone, putting pressure
wire edge. the scaler slip while on in the “pull” direction, and moving around the curve of the blade.
you are pushing.
4. Turn the blade over and change to the Palm Grip.

5. Move the stone to the edge of the table or bench you are working on and
lower the handle angle to 10° to the stone.

6. Again, move the blade forwards and backwards, adding pressure when
pulling.

7. Test the tip for sharpness and remove

any wire edge.

8. Finally, ensure that the toe has not

become pointed: if necessary rework
around the toe to regain its shape. 10° angle

10 11
 Gracey 9 Excavator
Dedicated Curette 126

Dedicated curettes have blades that are 70° to the shank; the toe is rounded; Excavators are either round or
and only one lateral face is cut back, so they only have one cutting edge. spoon-shaped. The cutting edge
goes all the way around the edge
1. Taking the instrument in a Start
Top Face of the flat upper face. Both styles are
Pen Grip, turn the blade so position
sharpened in the
that the hook faces left. If
same way.
viewed from the side, the
curved portion towards the Cutting Edge CAUTION…
1. Hold the instrument in either the Pen or Palm
toe will face downwards. Back Take care not to
create points or grip, whichever is more comfortable.
Lateral face
2. Angle the blade to about corners while
sharpening; the 2. Hold the instrument at around 30°, place one
30° from the stone.
cutting edge side of the tip’s cutting edge onto the stone,
3. Move the blade forwards and should form push the tip forwards and backwards, rocking
backwards over the stone, putting a continuous your way around the edge as you go.
pressure on in the “pull” direction, curve.
and moving around the curve of 3. Continue this process all the way around the
the blade. tip, adjusting the instrument angle as

4. Test the tip for sharpness and remove any wire edge. necessary to follow the tip shape.

5. Finally, ensure that the toe has not become pointed, and rework 4. Test the tip for sharpness, removing wire edges
as necessary. as necessary.

TIP…
Raise the edge of the sharpening stone (for example, End
with a test stick) to better see the 70° cutting edge. position

12 13
 Hand Instruments
Sterilisation
1. Warnings: Instruments are not sterile upon receipt and must be sterilised
before use in accordance with the following instructions. Instruments can be
damaged by alkaline and acidic detergents. Always use a pH neutral
detergent or solution. Do not exceed 140°C. Remove all packaging prior to
cleaning and sterilisation. Contaminated instruments should be handled with
gloves, and eye protection should be used.
2. Limitations: Repeated processing has minimal effect on these instruments.
End of life is normally determined by wear and on reprocessing: damage
due to use. See Inspection. Do not place Ceramicolor® instruments in direct
contact with steel instruments or metal baskets as this may lead to formation
of “greying” on the handles. NEVER clean colour-etched probes in ultrasonic
baths. Do not subject Flexichange® instruments to dry heat sterilisation.
3. Point of use: Remove all excess soil with disposable cloth paper wipe.
4. Containment and transportation: Protect delicate or fine instruments
from damage. Instruments should be reprocessed as soon as is reasonably
practical following use. Instruments left standing wet may stain or corrode.
5. Preparation for cleaning: No specific requirements. Disassembly not
required.
6. Automatic cleaning: Use only validated washing machines (HTM 2030:
UK only) and validated cleaning agents suitable for both instruments and
washing machine. Follow instructions issued by both the equipment and
cleaning agent manufacturers. When unloading, inspect for complete
removal of visible soil. If necessary, repeat cycle, or use manual cleaning
before repeating cycle.
7. Maintenance: Apply a small quantity of surgical grade lubrication oil to
forceps hinges prior to sterilisation.
14
8. Inspection and function testing: Visually inspect to ensure all
contamination has been removed. Check for distortion, damage and wear.
Cutting edges should be free of defects. Discard damaged, worn or
corroded instruments. Ensure that detachable tips are secure.
9. Drying: Dry using paper towelling or dry heat not exceeding 140°C.
10. Packaging for sterilisation: The UK Dept of Health recommends that
validated, pre-vacuum autoclaves are used for sterilising wrapped
instruments. Autoclaves drawing only a post-sterilisation vacuum for drying
purposes are not suitable for processing wrapped instruments. Instruments
may be loaded into dedicated instrument trays or general-purpose
sterilisation trays. Ensure that cutting edges are protected.
11. Sterilisation: Use only validated vacuum autoclaves (Refer to HTM 2010:
UK only). Do not exceed 140°C.
Sterilisation temperature range (°C) Nominal Pressure Minimum time at
temperature*
Minimum Maximum (mPa)
(in minutes)
134 137 0.225 3
*Minimum holding time when nominal operating temperature and pressure have been reached
12. Storage: Avoid contamination.
13. Additional information: When sterilising multiple instruments in one
autoclave cycle, ensure that the manufacturers stated maximum load is not
exceeded. Validated ultrasonic baths may be used with validated cleaning
agents. Follow instructions for use issued by both the equipment and
cleaning agent manufacturers. The expected life of a Flexichange
instrument handle is 12 months. These instructions have been validated by
the manufacturer as being capable of preparing a device for re-use. It
remains the responsibility of the reprocessor to ensure that the reprocessing
has actually achieved the desired result. This normally requires validation
and routine monitoring of the process. Any deviation by the reprocessor
from these instructions should be properly evaluated for effectiveness and
potential adverse effects.
15
DENTSPLY Ash Instruments
Hamm Moor Lane I Addlestone I Weybridge I Surrey KT15 2SE
Telephone +44(0)1932 853422
www.ash-instruments.com I www.dentsply.com

Ask your local DENTSPLY subsidiary, or dental wholesaler

for supplies outside the UK and Ireland G1156