The demonstration for sharpening a Gracey curette will be shown with a right handed-clinician. Left handed clinicians can proceed by using reverse directions.
To sharpen a Gracey curette, begin with the odd numbered end of the curette. Hold the instrument vertically in your non-dominant hand with the toe pointed toward you.
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Use a firm palm grasp and brace the top shank of the instrument with your thumb. The cutting edge to be sharpened will be on the right side of the blade.
WHEN TO SHARPEN?
Ideally, instruments should be sharpened regularly at the first sign of dullness. Consider the following to help determine when instruments need to be sharpened:
1. The frequency of instrument use
2. The degree of patient difficulty
3. Results of evaluating the cutting edge against a plastic test stick