When should hand instrument sharpening be performed?

Hand instrument sharpening is best performed prior to using an instrument and when it becomes dull. This practice ensures that instruments are always in optimal condition for effective periodontal work, maintaining their performance and precision. Sharp instruments allow for cleaner, more efficient cutting and scaling, which is crucial for effective periodontal therapy. Regularly assessing and sharpening instruments when they begin to dull helps prevent poor outcomes in patient care, as dull instruments can lead to increased hand fatigue, decreased operator efficiency, and may even result in damaging the tooth surface.

While it might seem practical to sharpen instruments after every patient, this could lead to unnecessary wear on the instruments. Sharpening only once a week may not be sufficient, depending on the frequency of their use and the clinical setting. Sharpening before cleaning the instruments is not a recommended practice, as cleaning should ideally be completed before any maintenance work is done on the instruments. Therefore, sharpening them just prior to use and as needed keeps them ready for optimal performance.