Some dentists choose to replace their dental instruments when they have worn out, but this is not necessarily something you have to do. If your dental instruments have been worn down, you may be better off turning to a retipping service so you can save money and extend the life of your instruments. 

The Benefits of Retipping Dental Instruments

When a dental instrument is worn down, it can potentially do damage to your patients' teeth because you will not be able to remove tooth tartar as well when the instrument is dull. This will require that you apply a greater amount of force. Applying more force can hurt the patient and can also cause wrist strain.

However, if you retip your instruments, you will be able to cut and penetrate the tooth more effectively. You will be able to finish the appointment more quickly and focus on other aspects of the appointment. The patient will have a better overall experience. You will not only save money by being more efficient but you will also save money by not having to replace your instruments.

Types of Dental Instruments That Can Be Retipped

The type of instruments you may want to retip include probes, explorers, curettes, and many others. Almost every instrument can be retipped to make sure that they perform at their absolute best.

A patient's gums are very sensitive and a dentist will likely need to use the curette to reduce your risk of infection and to remove the sticky substance that causes plaque. You will be able to retip both the universal curette and the Gracey curette. 

What Retipping Involves

With retipping, the tip is separated from the handle. The tip is then inspected to determine if it has any flaws. There might be damage to the instrument and it might need to be repaired. The tip is repaired or replaced. The new tip is inserted into the curette, is balanced based on the unique specifications of the instrument, and is then sealed in place. 

The instrument will be safe to use after it has been retipped because the same process that is used to manufacture the dental instrument is the process that will be used to retip them. you will still want to inspect your instruments before use to make sure, but your instrument will likely be in a much better condition and ready for use on a patient.

Talk to a curette retipping service to learn more.