1).  G. Hartzell & Son offers many instruments in both carbon steel and stainless steel – what is the difference? 
Carbon steel is a much “harder” steel than stainless steel, hence carbon steel instruments will retain their sharpened edges longer than ANY stainless steel (a metallurgical fact).  However, carbon steel requires special care during cleaning and sterilization – if an ultrasonic cleaner is utilized, please follow manufacturers’ instructions regarding solution dilution and the length of time the instruments are left in the solution.  Please use  only solutions that contain a corrosion inhibitor.  If a steam autoclave is utilized, please be sure to use a corrosion inhibitor – G. Hartzell & Son offers “Corrosion Inhibitor” or “Surgical Milk” and many products exist in the market- place for this purpose.  Or, a simple corrosion inhibitor may be made up in the dental office (mix 1 tablespoon sodium nitrite 2% solution per 1 quart distilled water, immerse instruments in the solution for 3-minutes, remove instruments, allow to air dry, then package for sterilization).  Please be sure that carbon steel instruments dry quickly during the “dry” or “vent” cycle of the autoclave – if the instruments are not drying or are removed wet, corrosion is still possible.

2).  G. Hartzell & Son offers many instruments in a cone socket (removable tip) style – is this effective? 
Yes, dental instruments are a substantial investment for any office and cone sockets offer a substantial cost-advantage in that only the tips (not an entire instrument) must be replaced.  Also, from an environmental perspective, the waste created by a cone socket is immensely smaller (about 92% less by weight)  than that of a “traditional” instrument.

3).  Is there a risk my cone socket instruments could come “loose” during a procedure? 
With proper insertion of the tips, this should never be a problem – it’s just like the lug nuts
on your automobile wheels – do they ever come loose?  The tips, however, should be tightened with a wrench (available from G. Hartzell & Son) to insure they do not loosen.  Cone sockets have been safely utilized by dentists worldwide for over 75-years.

4).  What is the guarantee on G. Hartzell & Son instruments? 
G. Hartzell & Son has been manufacturing instruments since 1935 – our quality-control is critically important to us.  If a problem is experienced with an instrument, please return it to your dealer or to us for inspection.  If a quality problem exists, the product will be replaced or credited.  Our instruments have a lifetime guarantee against defects.

5).  Do my hinged surgical instruments require any special care during sterilization? 
Yes, the application of a lubricant to the hinge is important to insure smooth operation of the
hinge.  Also, instruments with “locks” must be sterilized in the “open” position.  This insures sterility of the instrument  and also prevents “heat expansion” against locked instrument jaws that can cause cracking of the jaws (especially on fine needle holders).

6).  Does G. Hartzell & Son modify instruments or produce “new” instruments? 
Yes, as a manufacturer, we do both.  If you wish to protect a new design, please submit a non-disclosure statement to us prior to sending us designs or samples.  We will review the designs, when received, and evaluate the feasibility of producing the instrument.

7).  Is G. Hartzell & Son a responsible corporate citizen? 
Yes, we try to be.  We produce our products in the safest, most environmentally-sensitive manner possible.  We also offer full employee-benefits to all full-time employees (after a qualifying period of employment).  We support, on a constant basis, donations to dental and dental hygiene programs, and we support many charities.  A number of scholarships have been funded as a result of our support.  Lastly, we recycle all materials possible and, indeed, our cone socket instruments produce far less waste than any other style of instrument.