Team Responsibilities During Instrument Transfer

Operator Requirements

In order to maximize the efficiency of an instrument transfer technique the operator should maintain a finger rest for his/her working hand in the oral cavity so that the actual location of the transfer between team members will be predictable.  Such predictability is essential for smooth, safe transfers to occur.

A non-verbal signal to indicate a need to exchange an instrument is helpful in order to avoid tedious and repetitious verbal communication throughout the workday.  It is not uncommon for the number of instrument exchanges during a typical restorative procedure to exceed one hundred.  After the non-verbal signal is given, the operator needs to place the used instrument in his/her hand in a position that enables the assistant to safely retrieve it and transfer the new instrument.  A simple withdrawal of the used instrument from the operative field can serve as a non-verbal signal and it repositions the used instrument for better access by the dental assistant.  (Figure 3)

To reduce eyestrain the operator needs to maintain his/her eyes on the operative field and refrain from removing instruments from or replacing instruments onto the pre-set tray.  By making an instrument exchange predictable there is no need for the operator to look away from the oral cavity during the procedure.

Click Here To Navigate Within Article >> Abstract Introduction Team Responsibilities During Instrument Transfer Instrument Grasps Special Instruments or Situations Conclusion References About the Author