Part of the standard protocol of any surgical procedure is the use of sharp instruments. This is especially so during the surgical preparation of the osteotomy site for dental implant placement and when drilling post holes in teeth roots. If the edge of the drill becomes dulled through repeated usage, the drill then becomes inefficient and generates substantial heat which is transferred to the bone or tooth. Over heating of a tooth results in fracture of the tooth.

It is well documented that a rise in the temperature of bone to 37 C for one minute will result in necrosis of the bone. Bone necrosis around an osteotomy site will result in failure of the implant to osseointegrate resulting in its subsequent removal. This is a serious problem for both the clinician and the patient and is a situation that is entirely preventable.

The end of the Spade drill comes to a point, either 90' or 120' depending upon the design (Fig.1). Further, there is a relief rake to the drill to allow the drill to cut

effectively (Fig. 2).

Most surgeons are either not aware that their Spade Drills can be sharpened or if so do not know how to sharpen them. A simple test to determine whether the drill is sharp is to slide the drill across your fingernail at right angles to the drill edge and see if it catches on the nail. If it does not catch, the drill is dull.

It is virtually impossible to sharpen a drill with the correct angles if the clinician uses a bench hone to sharpen the drill. The Simpler Drill Sharpener is designed to bring the end of the drill in contact with a sharpening stone at both the correct angle and rake every time. It is simple to use with minimal training.