Start here · Operatory · Basic chairside skills
Passing instruments
Also called: instrument transfer, instrument exchange
Pass and receive instruments smoothly in the transfer zone, never over the face.
In four-handed dentistry, the assistant hands the operator the next instrument and takes back the used one so the operator can keep looking at the work. For a right-handed operator, the assistant passes with the left hand. Teams agree on a signal (words or a hand movement) for when an exchange is needed.
What it is used for
- Hold the next instrument ready in the transfer zone, then receive the used instrument and deliver the new one in one smooth exchange.
- Keep instruments from tangling during the exchange.
Safety and care
- Point sharp tips away from both people, and never pass over the patient's face.
- A set transfer technique lowers the risk of sharps injuries.
Related
Sources: Dentalcare.com (Procter & Gamble) CE643: Four-Handed Dentistry (Basic Tenets; Zones of Activity; Instrument Transfer), CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 2003;52(RR-17)