Start here · Tools · Hygiene and scaling
Sharpening test stick
Also called: plastic test stick, sharpness test stick
A plastic rod used to check whether a blade is still sharp.
A test stick is a small plastic rod. Draw the cutting edge lightly across it: a sharp edge "bites" and catches, while a dull edge slides. Another quick check is to look at the edge under a light; a dull edge reflects a bright line.
How to spot it
- A plain plastic rod about the size of a pencil, often scratched from use.
What it is used for
- Checking curettes and scalers before and after sharpening.
Safety and care
- Use on clean instruments; discard or sterilize per office protocol.
Related
Sources: Hu-Friedy. It's About Time instrument sharpening manual, Gehrig JS, Shin DE. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation, 9th ed. Jones & Bartlett, 2023 (plus Newman & Carranza's Clinical Periodontology)