This is a continuation from last week's On-Track-Tuesday email!

As promised, I wanted to share some ideas for instrument kit set-ups.

Over the years, we have found that many dental hygienists are typically using the same instruments in every kit.

Many purchase what they are use to and what they were taught in school.

The common kit being: H6/7, 204S, BH 1/2 or COL 4R/4L, GR 1/2, GR 11/12 and GR 13/14. Same kit for all clients.

There are many reasons for this:

1. It's what we know. What we were taught in school.

2. Often tray set-ups are created by the office sometimes prior to us even starting in the practice! And then everyone just gets use to what is provided and things never change.

3. Budgets may be tight and we don't want to risk buying something we have never tried just to find out we don't like it.

4. We don't know what we don't know. (meaning we may not know of new instrument designs that are available to us so wouldn't know to try or even order them!)

5. You want minis for your perio clients but know that in the past, because the mini blade is so small, we tend to go through them faster with sharpening (*note: with the sharpen-free, your minis will now last you a long time!)

We often get asked to help dental hygienists and practices when they are purchasing instruments. So, we came up with the Decision Tree for Instrument Selection! based on using the LM Sharp-Diamond Instruments.

We share this in our 'Maintain Your Edge: Part 2', which will be released shortly. In the meantime, I am sharing this document with you (see below - it is a 2 page download). You can print and laminate for your reference in your practice!

Using different instruments and having unique kits is beneficial for many reasons:

1. It will help you use instruments for their intended use.

2. Using instruments that help you with advanced instrumentation will help you provide optimal care for those difficult to reach areas.

3. Using the same instruments day in and day out is boring. No doubt about it. Looking at your day sheet, planning your day and using your decision-making process to determine the specific needs of your client will help you feel more engaged in your day!

4. Streamlining your kits will save you money:

• Many times we have too many instruments in our kits and we are putting these instruments through extra unnecessary reprocessing cycles, which shortens the life of your instrument.
• Using hybrid instruments (ie like the Syntette replaces the GR 11/12 and GR 13/14. 2 instruments in 1!

We hope you like the Decision Tree for Instrument Selection!

If you need any help, we are here to help answer your questions and to help guide you.

We love instruments...and sharp ones!

Stay tuned for 'Maintain Your Edge: A Sharpening Workshop and Discovery of Leading-edge Instruments: Part 2'. Presented by myself and Beth Parkes. It is included in the Crest & Oral B rdhu Relief program and part of the Dental Hygiene Quarterly. It will be available for separate purchase as well once we finish production. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the Decision Tree for Instrument Selection (please see button below)!

If you missed last week's On-Track-Tuesday, you can read past blogs by clicking here.

Thank you for reading! We have a lot of great things in the making so please stay tuned. In the meantime, please find what is scheduled at this time below.

Have a great week ahead and thank you for being a part of rdhu!

Kindest regards,

Kathleen