RETURN TO HAND SCALING…ARE YOU READY?
Back to the Basics of Hand Scaling, But with a Twist
Now more than ever having scalers and curettes in top notch condition is essential. Overdue patients likely will present with excess deposits and/or worsened periodontal conditions.
Since European guidelines on the matter recommend to avoid aerosol-generating procedures whenever possible, initially you may be doing more hand than power scaling. For these reasons, having the right selection of scalers and curettes in your procedural set-ups will aid in providing optimal and efficient care for your patients.
What Types of Hand Scalers Do You Need?
Take a look at the instruments in your procedural set-ups and think about your patient population. Are most of your patients adults with heavy calculus and/or stain? Are they children and teens with minimal hard deposits but more biofilm and inflamed tissues? Or do you see many periodontal maintenance patients? The types of patients in your practice can help guide your decision of which instruments will be optimal for treatment. Below are some options to consider for your procedural set-ups.
Rigid and Extra Rigid Instruments
Rigid and extra rigid instruments have larger, more robust shanks to allow effective removal of tenacious and heavy deposits. The blade size is the same as the instruments’ standard size counterpart, however the wider, less flexible shank offers an advantage in aiding in the removal of heavy deposits. If your patient population tends to present with heavy deposits, or if you prefer hand scaling over power scaling, instruments with rigid shanks can assist in efficient deposit removal.
After Five and Mini Five Gracey Curettes
After Five and Mini Five Gracey curettes are a superb addition to procedural set-ups where the patient population presents with much deep pocketing and/or significant root exposure. The terminal shanks of these instruments are 3mm longer than the standard Gracey curettes, allowing for extended reach. The After Five versions have blades that are 10% thinner allowing for less tissue distension while the Mini Five blades are 10% thinner and 50% shorter for access to deep, narrow pockets.
Biogent Curettes
Their reduced blade width is indicated for non-traumatic and efficient access into the periodontium, while the modified bends and angulation offers better adaption. All BioGent Curettes are designed with EverEdge 2.0 technology for super-sharp edges and efficient scaling
Enjoy the EverEdge 2.0 technology!
EverEdge scalers are sharp…EverEdge 2.0 scalers are even sharper. Using an enhanced finishing process, Hu-Friedy’s professional artisans create edges that are scientifically measured to be over 60%* sharper than the next closest competitor. Less force means easier, more comfortable scaling for the clinician and patient. And, as we all know, sharper blades are both more effective and efficient on removal of hard deposits.
As patients return to offices for past due dental hygiene procedures, having procedural set-ups with sharp instruments that can readily remove deposits with fewer strokes will make procedures more efficient for you and more comfortable for your patients. Many studies have shown that while hand instrumentation may require more time than power scaling, the same clinical outcomes are achieved using either method1. Whether you choose to use only hand scalers or a combination of power and hand scaling, the quality of your hand instrumentation depends on the condition of your scalers and curettes—primarily the sharpness of the blades.
Visit our "The Secrets of Sharpening" page.
* Products tested: Hu-Friedy EverEdge 2.0 H7, American Eagle XP H6-7, PDT H6-7, LM EM/EN H6-7, and G M Hartzell H6-7. For more information, contact David Platt, Hu-Friedy Mfg. Co., LLC, 3232 N. Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618.