What is an advantage of sharpening hand instruments before procedures?

Sharpening hand instruments before dental procedures offers multiple benefits, the most significant of which is more precise cutting. Sharp instruments allow for a cleaner and more efficient cutting action, reducing the effort required from the clinician to achieve the desired results. This precision ensures that the tissues are cut cleanly, which can help minimize trauma and promote better healing.

When instruments are sharp, they require less pressure to cut through tissue or calculus, enhancing both the comfort of the patient and the effectiveness of the procedure. A precise cutting edge also helps maintain the integrity of surrounding tissues, leading to a more controlled and effective treatment, and might enhance the clinician's overall tactile feedback, as the sharp edges can better convey the feel of the tissue being worked on.

In contrast, having a dull instrument can lead to an increase in pressure needed for cutting, decreased tactile sensitivity, and a higher likelihood of slippage during use, which can be detrimental during procedures that require high precision. Therefore, sharpening hand instruments clearly leads to an advantage in achieving more accurate and efficient performance during periodontal procedures.