With a rigorous patient schedule have you ever experienced hand fatigue by early afternoon?  If so, you are not alone. Typically, by mid-day, a hygienist begins to experience fatigue on his/her hands, fingers, wrists, and shoulders.  Many factors can contribute to your level of fatigue, including, but not limited to, inadequate, heavy, dull, and older hand scalers/curettes.

Aiding in the prevention of hand fatigue Life Steel scalers and curettes focus on weight and edge retention.  Weighing in at 14.5 grams, the Life Steel scalers/curettes, are one of the lightest instruments on the market.  Made in Orchard Park, NY, from 440A stainless steel, they are made with an Ion Charged Technology that increases edge retention.  Edge retention is important, as it will keep your instruments sharper for an extended period of time.  Subsequently, sharper instrumentation will result in efficient scaling, with the sharp cutting edge consistently biting into calculus.   Effective scaling will require fewer strokes. The combination of a lightweight instrument that stays sharp and requires less hand strokes will help to reduce hand fatigue.

To help maximize comfort, the ergonomically manufactured handle is 9.5mm in diameter with a knurled design that provides a pleasant grasp on the both the hands and fingertips.  Additionally, the transition from handle to shank is a smooth one, allowing you to choke down on an instrument with minimal effort.

Acknowledging that lightweight ergonomically engineered instrumentation can help minimize hand fatigue and maximize patient care through efficient scaling, it's also important to also note that maintenance is less problematic when using 100% stainless steel instruments. Maintaining a positive track of asepsis is much easier when compared with instruments made from plastic/resin.  Plastic resin is a porous material that may breakdown or crack over a period of time, allowing bacteria to procreate on the surface of the handle. More importantly the hard-metallic surface of stainless steel makes it difficult for bacteria to adhere and survive when compared with plastic.  The ability to be cleaned effectively makes stainless steel a great choice for tricky hygiene conditions.  Additionally, the stainless steel handle will have a longer corrosion-free, crack free life when compared with that of a plastic/resin handle.