Hygienist Donna Grzegorek readily admits that dull instruments—along with those that are sharpened incorrectly—are the bane of her existence. It’s no wonder, then, that she tried American Eagle’s XP Sharpen-Free Blackjack and quickly dubbed it her “dream come true.”
Along with patented technology that ensures a sharpen-free lifetime, this universal sickle scaler provides excellent anterior and interproximal access with an extended upper shank for good posterior access. “It performs wonderfully in tight crevices in the lower anterior sextant,” declared Grzegorek.
The Blackjack’s extraordinarily sharp edge and easy access are just the beginning for Grzegorek, who said she “can’t express enough how great it performs and how ergonomically sound this instrument feels in my hand with its lightweight handle.” Try as she might, Grzegorek couldn’t think of a single thing to improve about the Blackjack. “It truly is the perfect instrument for me,” she said. “It checks all the boxes.”
Sharpness & Sharpen-Free Technology
Blackjack’s highly wear-resistant factory cutting edge never requires sharpening—something greatly appreciated by the 11 hygienists and 1 dentist who participated in its review. For Malee Wong, RDH, the Blackjack’s sharpen-free technology was a welcome relief from working with instruments that were dull or sharpened beyond recognition, and Ellen Cartier was pleased that “the scaler is very sharp and stays that way.” Acknowledging that she hates sharpening instruments, hygienist Jeanette Crofts said, “I love the XP technology. It works great, and the cutting edge always stays sharp,” which also saves time.
Jennifer Porter, RDH, liked not having to spend time using multiple instruments, and Denise McClaughry “loved the universal characteristics, blade width, angled shank, and the edge that stayed sharp after several autoclave cycles.” Describing the scaler as “a dependable instrument that saves time,” Dr. Jeanne Spence expressed an interest in different angle/blade type options, and McClaughry suggested “a more rigid and a little longer shank.” Other blade designs and shank lengths are available from the manufacturer.
Access & Efficiency of Calculus Removal
Unlike other scalers that she considers “a little too thick, making it difficult to do a thorough job,” Wong said the Blackjack helped “remove calculus more efficiently and is wonderful for extremely narrow contacts, especially the mandibular anterior teeth.” For Grzegorek, “efficient calculus removal and sharpen-free technology make it a timesaver,” and Dr. Spence was impressed with the “great ease of use and efficiency.” Hygienist Krista Fogle said, “It removed calculus effectively and helped remove interproximal calculus quickly.” Noting that the Blackjack “performed better than I expected,” Cartier explained, “It did an exceptional job of removing subgingival calculus around the entire mouth” while improving efficiency and “saving a lot of time.” Cartier also pointed out the potential for cost savings by eliminating the need to replace over-sharpened instruments.
Feedback about access was overwhelmingly positive, with hygienist Angela Reeds praising its “great posterior access and easy calculus removal.” She explained, “The slim design allowed greater access interproximally, especially under the contact.” Praising its sharpness, access, and optimal angulation, Porter said, “Blackjack helped get access to tight spots I have a hard time accessing with other scalers due to the angle design.” Also a fan of the instrument’s angle, Crofts noted, “It allows me to reach interproximal and slight mesial and distal edges.” Allison Koska, RDH, said, “The Blackjack’s slightly longer shank makes for easy adaptation, and I could access the lingual of teeth Nos. 30 and 31 more easily.” She added, “In a pinch, I think a whole prophy could be done with just this single instrument.”
Ergonomics
Along with its lightweight, the XP Blackjack eliminates the need to apply excess pressure, allowing use with less force and a lighter grip with either the ultra-lightweight EagleLite resin handle or the stainless-steel handle. “These instruments are extremely light, which combats hand fatigue,” said Wong. Fogle was also “able to detect and remove calculus with less hand fatigue,” and Porter appreciated the “light handle and good tactile sense.” Koska described the Blackjack as “very lightweight” and especially liked the knurled handle, which “made the instrument easier to grip.”
