YES, it’s perfectly safe. Re-tipping is basically rebuilding an old instrument by replacing the working ends and reusing the handle. The processes that are used to re-tip an instrument are the same as those used when the instrument is originally assembled. The only part of the instrument that is reused is the handle itself.
At Progressive Edge we use 440A surgical grade stainless steel, made in North America. Our steel meets or exceeds the standards of leading dental instrument manufacturers. It has superior corrosion resistance and has been heat-treated for a tip that is easy to sharpen and maintains its edge.
Rarely, a handle may form cracks during the re-tipping process. Our re-tipping specialists, trained hygienists that have mastered the re-tipping process, inspect all instruments for cracks or other damage before assembling, bonding and sealing a new tip into the existing handle. Progressive Edge will not re-tip any handle deemed compromised. The instrument is inspected once again when fully assembled. A properly assembled instrument, whether re-tipped or new, should not allow leakage of any kind into the handle. Manufacturers opposed to re-tipping seem to be concerned with leakage into re-tipped instruments that have been press-bonded and sealed, yet are not opposed to selling handles with screw-in mirrors that not are not sealed in any way.
Progressive Edge has taken standard guidelines for tip shapes and tip alignments to a new level of efficiency by combining their 30 years of hygiene experience with the best materials and manufacturing expertise available. All instruments are checked to ensure proper balancing for its individual application. Many hygienists are accustomed to the instruments that they were trained with, but once in practice discover alternatives that may work better. We have those alternatives.
Re-tipping with Progressive Edge gives you an eco-friendly option for replacing instruments with 60% cost savings, accurate angles, easy to sharpen tips, a 5-7 day turn around, excellent service and the benefit of our combined 30 years of hygiene experience.
