Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments
 During use an experienced operator will
1 be able to detect when the cutting edge
2
of an instrument has become blunt since
its effectiveness is reduced.
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments

 Testing the sharpness on the thumbnail

 If the cutting edge digs in during an
attempt to slide the instrument over the
thumbnail, the instrument is sharp. If it
slides, the instrument is blunt.
 Use light pressure in testing.
 Sterilize again after testing.
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments
 Dental hatchet and carver
1 A flat sharpening stone with a fine grain
2 ('Arkansas' stone). Coarse grained sharpening
3 stone should be avoided .
4
 Produce a sharp cutting edge while
5

6
maintaining the original shape of the
instrument.
 The hatchet and carver are sharpened in a
similar manner (straight cutting edge).
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments

 Dental hatchet and carver

1
 'Arkansas' stone
2

3
 Oil
4

6
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments
 Dental hatchet and carver
1  The sharpening stone is stabilized on a flat
2 surface such as a table.
3
 A drop of oil is placed on the stone
4
 The stone is held firmly with one hand and the
5

6 middle finger of the other hand is rested on the

stone as a guide.
 The beveled surface of the instrument flat on
the stone.
 Bevel is parallel to the surface of the stone.
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments

 Dental hatchet and carver

1
 Slide several times back and forth over the
2

3 oil covered stone.

4  Surface to be sharpened parallel to the stone
surface.
5

6
 The instruments are re-sterilized after they
have been sharpened.
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments
 Dental
1

2
hatchet
3

Slide several times

back and forth
over the oil
covered stone.
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments
 Dental
1

2
hatchet
3

4 Surface to be sharpened
5 parallel to the stone surface.
6
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments
Spoon excavator
 Outer edge
 Stabilized stone
 Oil on stone
 Grip
 Small strokes
 All directions
 Sterilize
 Equipment & Materials

Sharpening of instruments
 Spoon excavator