Most instrument damage does not happen in the mouth – it happens in the reprocessing cycle. Corrosion spots, dulled edges, bent probe tips and stiff joints usually trace back to water quality, chemicals, drying or the way instruments were packed. This guide walks through the cycle and points to what protects the instruments. It summarises general good practice; the binding reference for each product is its instructions for use (IFU), and ErgoDenta's reprocessing guidance is published at ergodenta.dk/care. National infection-control guidelines take precedence.
The reprocessing cycle
1. Immediately after use
Keep instruments moist or pre-clean them promptly so blood and debris do not dry on. Dried-on residue is the most common cause of staining and of failed cleaning.
2. Cleaning
Ultrasonic bath or washer-disinfector with a pH-neutral or mildly alkaline detergent intended for surgical instruments. Avoid chloride-containing or strongly alkaline agents – they attack stainless steel. Open hinged instruments (forceps, needle holders, scissors) so the joints are cleaned.
3. Rinse and dry
Rinse with demineralised water where possible; tap water with a high mineral content leaves spots and, over time, corrosion. Dry thoroughly – moisture in a closed cassette is a corrosion risk.
4. Inspection
Check cutting edges, probe tips and hinges. Sharpen curettes and scalers a little at a time, and retire instruments whose blades have become thin. Replace ErgoTip tips instead of sharpening. See our guides to Gracey curettes and sickle scalers for what a worn blade looks like.
5. Packaging
Use a sterilisation cassette with individual slots so instruments do not touch and fine tips are protected. Cassettes also keep sets together and make colour-coding practical – see colour-coded rings and ErgoTape.
6. Sterilisation
Steam sterilisation is the standard for stainless steel and titanium hand instruments. ErgoDenta's guidance is a validated class B cycle at 134 °C for at least 4 minutes, maximum 138 °C (ergodenta.dk/care). Follow the IFU of each product and the autoclave manufacturer's instructions; do not exceed the stated temperature.
7. Storage
Store dry, packaged, and away from chemicals. Instruments of different materials – stainless steel, titanium – should be kept in separate cassettes.
What shortens instrument life
- Chlorides – from saline, some disinfectants and tap water – cause pitting corrosion on stainless steel.
- Mixed metals in one bath – can cause galvanic corrosion; keep steel and titanium separate.
- Dried residue – stains and hides under deposits.
- Overloaded or unsuitable cassettes – instruments touching each other dull edges and bend probe tips.
- Excess sharpening – removes more steel than necessary; sharpen lightly and often rather than heavily and rarely.
- Wrong instrument for the job – a curette used as a lever or a probe used to pry will bend.
Materials
ErgoDenta hand instruments are made from hardened surgical stainless steel; titanium instruments for implant maintenance are made from a titanium alloy that is softer than steel. Both are steam-sterilisable; both are damaged by chlorides and strongly alkaline chemicals. Handle series (ErgoX, ErgoX Plus, ErgoLite, ErgoSteel) are reprocessed with the instrument – see ergodenta.dk/ergohandles.
Organising sets
Fixed sets in cassettes – examination, periodontal, restorative, surgical, implant – reduce handling, make missing instruments obvious and shorten set-up. Colour-code per set or per operator. See sterilisation and organisation and the ErgoTray range at ergodenta.dk/ergotrays.
Documentation
ErgoDenta instruments are CE-marked medical devices under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745). Instructions for use and declarations of conformity can be requested for the clinic's quality system – contact us via the contact page. Company details are on the about page and at ergodenta.dk/about-us.
Hinged instruments: forceps, needle holders, scissors
Extraction forceps, needle holders, haemostats and scissors need attention at the joint. Clean them open, dry the joint, and check that it moves freely before packaging; a stiff joint after sterilisation is usually residue or corrosion in the box lock. Ratchets on needle holders and haemostats should close and release cleanly. Diamond-coated forceps beaks and the fine tips of Castroviejo needle holders are protected best in a cassette slot. See surgery.
Sharpening: light and often
Curettes and scalers lose their edge gradually. A light touch-up at each inspection removes very little steel and keeps the blade geometry; waiting until the instrument is clearly dull means heavy sharpening that shortens the blade's life. Stop sharpening when the blade has become narrow and thin – it is then a candidate for replacement. With the ErgoTip system the tip is simply replaced. See our Gracey curette guide for how a worn blade looks.
A weekly instrument routine
- Inspect every cassette for missing, bent or dull instruments.
- Touch up cutting edges that no longer bite.
- Check hinges and ratchets on surgical instruments.
- Check that the autoclave's last validation and the water quality of the washer-disinfector are within the clinic's limits.
- Replace worn mirrors, bent probes and thinned blades – and note what was replaced, so purchasing sees which instruments wear fastest.
Frequently misunderstood points
- "Stainless" does not mean corrosion-proof. Surgical stainless steel resists corrosion under correct reprocessing; chlorides, dried residue and moisture defeat it.
- Higher temperature is not better. Stay within the IFU; ErgoDenta specifies a maximum of 138 °C.
- Titanium instruments are not softer in the autoclave. They are steam-sterilised like steel; the difference is in edge wear, not in reprocessing.
Frequently asked questions
Can I autoclave ErgoDenta instruments at 134 °C?
Yes – the manufacturer's guidance is a class B cycle at 134 °C for at least 4 minutes, maximum 138 °C. Follow the product IFU.
Why do my instruments get brown spots?
Usually mineral deposits from water, dried residue or chloride exposure. Use demineralised water for the final rinse and dry thoroughly.
How often should curettes be sharpened?
Test the edge at each inspection and sharpen lightly when it no longer bites; light, frequent sharpening removes less steel than heavy, occasional sharpening.
Sterilisation cassettes, colour-coded rings, ErgoTape and trays.
Shop sterilisation & organisation
Sources and notes
Product range and item numbers: InstruDent/ErgoDenta product records, September 2026. Handle dimensions: ergodenta.dk/ergohandles. Reprocessing: ErgoDenta Care / instructions for use (ergodenta.dk/care). Instrument design and classic areas of use follow standard periodontology and operative dentistry textbooks.
Professional note: instrument selection and treatment technique are clinical decisions. This guide describes instrument design and intended use, not treatment protocols.