how to clean the dental sharpening stone?

Scaling and root planning are performed with sharp instruments because they are more effective at removing calculus and other hard deposits from the teeth. And these tools must be regularly sharpened to maintain their sharpness.

Forty percent of dental hygienists sharpen their instruments daily or at least once per week.

So, there is a tool capable of doing this operation. They are known as sharpening stones.

It is a finishing tool used to sharpen the steel blades of knives and other cutting implements, such as scissors and garden tools. Other than that, it can also be used in dentistry to sharpen some dental instruments and clean diamond burs. The most prevalent types are whetstones and carborundum stones.

Utilizing bonded abrasives, synthetic whetstones are manufactured. Typically, these consist of aluminum oxide, silicon carbide (a form of ceramic), or a diamond coating on a metal sheet. The uniform grit size of synthetic whetstones enables faster, more efficient sharpening.

However, dental sharpening stones will deteriorate with repeated use. Therefore, it is necessary to clean the sharpening stone after using it regularly to ensure that it functions well and does not become clogged.

Level the sharpening stone and remove any metal fragments, leftover materials, or trash from the things you previously sharpened.

But do you know how to clean the Dental Sharpening Stone?

Here are some processes; we hope the content of this post will assist you in solving the challenges you have encountered.

1. Prepare the tools necessary to clean a sharpening stone and a table with sufficient space for the task.

2. Pour honing oil all over the sharpening stone to begin. This is especially recommended for sharpening stones with glossy gray streaks, which indicate that debris has accumulated on the stone. If necessary, do not fear to coat every inch of the sharpening stone or make numerous passes over the entire surface.

3. The sharpening stone is placed beneath a towel. This should ensure that the stone's surplus particles may be captured.

4. Once the stone has been coated with honing oil, use an old toothbrush or towel to remove any debris. If your sharpening stone is filthy, you may substitute steel wool.

Honing oil is a liquid, solution, or emulsion used to facilitate the cutting or grinding of metal, generally with abrasive tools and stones, and may or may not contain oil. It is also known as tool oil, cutting fluid, and cutting oil.

Here share the thing: why oil is added to dental instrument sharpening stones?

The stone will be lubricated by the oil. And help metal shavings float away, preventing them from being embedded in the stone. This assists in preserving the abrasive nature of the stone.

5. Steel wool, a toothbrush, or a rag can be used to clean the sharpening stone in horizontal or circular motions. The grit will rise through the pores of the sharpening stone. Utilize the cloth to clean the stone.

6. When using a water-based honing oil, the stone must be cleaned with warm, soapy water.

7. Rinse the honing stone with running water.

8. Dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Note: Coating Your Stone can also be done with WD-40 instead of honing oil. WD-40, a specifically formulated oil spray, is excellent for cleaning sharpening stones, among other applications. Apply the oil to the stone's surface and ensure that the entire surface is coated.