How to Transition from Stainless Steel to XP Sharpen-Free Instruments

Did you ever learn the nursery rhyme; Make new friends, but keep the old; Some are silver and the others are gold? This pops up in my mind whenever I’m due to order some new instruments for the hygiene department. And slowly but surely, all the instruments became “the gold,” also known as the gold-colored American Eagle XP² Sharpen-Free instruments.

Why Switch from Stainless Steel to XP Sharpen-Free

Dental hygienists benefit from using American Eagle XP² 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

Because they’re so sharp, XP² Sharpen-Free instruments allow you to hold the instrument using a light “exploratory scaling” touch.  Less lateral pressure is needed for scaling, creating an ergonomic and acoustically comfortable approach.

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? 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 XP² Sharpen-Free, they are.

XP² Sharpen-Free instruments are 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. Bottom line: You’ll never sharpen these.

Zero Sharpening and Happier Patients

In addition to less time spent assessing and sharpening, XP² 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 always-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 XP², 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 XP² Sharpen-Free is compared to the stainless steel. 

You’ve Reached Your Golden Years

Every great hygienist deserves their golden years—hygiene kits full of American Eagle XP² Sharpen-Free instruments. The transition is easy with a bit of planning. You deserve it!