Sharpening Stones

Description

Sharpening Stones

Every hand scaler and curette loses its edge with use, and a dull blade slows the whole appointment. A dental sharpening stone restores that edge chairside or in the sterilization area. Intrace USA, an Atlanta distributor, offers two stones from our set components, and each one receives a look-over in the United States before it ships.

White Hard Arkansas or Red Slip

• White, Hard Arkansas: a white stone of the Hard Arkansas type, a classic choice for fine finishing of an edge.
• Red, Slip: a red slip stone, a shaped stone that many clinicians move against the instrument rather than the other way round.

Our supplier does not list grit numbers or dimensions for either stone. So compare the photos to judge size and shape before you order.

Choosing Between the Two

If you want a steady base for flat-stone techniques, the Hard Arkansas suits that approach. On the other hand, a slip stone helps when you prefer to hold the instrument still and work the stone. Many hygiene departments keep both, because each clinician sharpens a little differently. In addition, a spare stone lets two operatories sharpen at the same time.

Using a Stone Well

First, check the stone manufacturer’s guidance on lubrication, since stones differ. Next, keep the original blade angle and use light, even strokes. Then test the edge on a plastic test stick and repeat only if needed. Over-sharpening shortens the life of an expensive curette.

Cleaning and Storage

Metal particles and oil load the surface over time. Therefore, wipe the stone after each session and scrub it periodically. The stones arrive non-sterile; follow your clinic protocol and the stone type before any sterilization step. We cover each stone for three years against manufacturing defects in material or finish.

The instruments you maintain with these stones are typically made from steel to ASTM F899, and the stones themselves are not steel. Explore the instruments they keep sharp in our periodontal and diagnostic range, pair a stone with Gracey Curettes, or read our instrument FAQs.

Intended for dental professionals trained in instrument sharpening. Our care and reprocessing page and order delivery page give further detail.