Kind of an odd post but...
I asked my hygenist during my last visit what they do with used dental picks. Apparently they are sterilized and reused until they become dull and then they just recycle them. She said she had a drawer full waiting to be recycled. I asked if I could have a couple and she was happy to give me two (as long as I promised not to start using them on my teeth ). She said they are about $40 each new.
The tips are sharp, yes, but they are actually edge tools with a sharp bevel on the side for scraping.
I have found them extremely usefull, especially in restoration work getting grunge out of small places or scraping small paint drips or rust spots (which seem to be always present in old tools).
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Just FYI, in case you're interested...