Why switch from stainless steel to XP Sharpen-Free
Dental hygienists benefit from using American Eagle XP Sharpen-Free instruments versus traditional stainless steel instruments in their hygiene procedures for many reasons. If you like having more time in your day and less operator fatigue, read on.
A Better Technique
With XP Sharpen-Free, you’ll implement a new scaling method. Because they’re so sharp, you’ll hold the instrument using a light “exploratory scaling” touch. You’ll modify your working stroke with these instruments, lightly shaving the calculus away from the outermost layer working inward instead of fracturing off calculus. Less lateral pressure is needed for scaling, creating an ergonomic and acoustically comfortable approach and promoting your scaler’s longevity.
Zero Sharpening
Stainless steel instruments require frequent sharpening to maintain efficacy. Finding the time to do this can be challenging. When exactly is a great time to open every kit, sharpen them, and run them all through the autoclave at once? *Assistants clucking in the background* You really do need adequate time for proficiency because when you sharpen an instrument, it will slightly change the shape of the cutting edge. With a complex design, it’s almost impossible to replicate the exact angles of a blade. You could sharpen a kit at a time, but hygiene law states you’ll always grab the butter knife kit when you really need the sharp one. There’s chairside as if that doesn’t intimidate the patient, but appointment time is precious. Does the dilemma sound familiar? What if they were just always sharp all of the time? With XP Sharpen-Free, they are.
XP Sharpen-Free instruments are not coated, but rather created with a fusion of titanium nitride and carbon combined with stainless steel. This design allows these instruments to be truly sharpen-free throughout their usable lifespan, which is just as long, if not longer, than traditional stainless-steel instruments and retain their sharp edge the entire time. Bottom line: You’ll never sharpen these.
Zero Sharpening and Happier Patients
In addition to less time spent assessing and sharpening, XP instruments allow for more comfortable visits. The instruments are thinner and used with a lighter touch, so fewer “scraping” sounds are heard. When patient comfort increases, patients are happier, leading to more pleasant interactions and treatment compliance. In turn, patients are healthier, and hygienists and dentists are happier. Everyone wins.
Zero Sharpening and Improved Ergonomics
Did I say zero sharpening? Hygienists can use ever-sharp instruments to preserve their hands and wrist with improved ergonomic practices. A working stroke requires lateral pressure and force, and excessive repetition can lead to hand fatigue, pain, and even musculoskeletal injury. With XP, there is less force and fewer repetitive strokes.
Transition Plan
Now you’re sold, I know. I also know you’re not the only person that needs to be on board in the dental office for this golden plan to come to fruition. It’s likely not realistic to replace every instrument the office has at one time, but developing an attainable plan is something everyone can agree to.
Assess Your Current Stock of Instruments
First, evaluate what you have. How many kits? How many instruments per kit? When was the last time instruments were purchased? How many were purchased at the time? These answers are the base information you need to develop your transition plan.
Create a Department Budget
Decide what an appropriate budget for instruments in the hygiene department would be. I like to do this by taking my base information and creating a budget that supports replacing every instrument in a period of 9-18 months. For example, if you have nine kits with approximately eight scalers per kit, you’ll have 72 instruments to consider. By requesting a budget that supports replacing 12 instruments quarterly, no instrument will be used longer than 18 months. Doing the math for your boss will make it easier to get a “yes.”
Replace Instruments by Priority
I like to replace my “most used” instrument first in that first order. I’ll order enough for one in every kit, and if there’s room in the budget, I’ll start with a few of the next cherished instrument. Of course, some instruments get much more use than others and may require replacement in a shorter time than the scalers used less frequently.
Is there a scaler your dentist likes to use? Consider including one in the first order so they can see how great the XP sharpen-free is compared to the stainless steel. Be sure to inform that these instruments are not to be used for gingival curettage or removing overhangs, as they are not intended to be used with excessive force.
Important Considerations for Mixed Kits
While you’re transitioning your instruments, you’ll want to separate the steel from XP Sharpen-Free. Per XP care instructions, don’t batch XP instruments with stainless steel, aluminum, brass or copper instruments during the cleaning or sterilization processes in order to avoid etching and corrosion due to electrolysis reactions between dissimilar metals.
The best way to manage this is to have kits solely of XP instruments, or bag XP instruments separately from stainless steel kits. As your kit becomes XP-dominated, you can bag the stainless-steel instruments separately.
You’ve Reached Your Golden Years
Every great hygienist deserves their golden years—hygiene kits full of American Eagle XP sharpen-free instruments. The transition is easy with a bit of planning. You deserve it!
