Periodontal

Scaling
Instruments
Gracey Curettes

 Periodontal

scaling is the
therapeutic procedure performed
by a dentist or dental hygienist to
remove all mineralized, hardened
deposits from the tooth's surfaces.
It is performed supra and
subgingivally and can be done
using a non surgical (closed) or a
surgical (open) approach.

Based on instrument design,

how they are used, where
they are used and how they
work, the following
classification of periodontal
scaling instruments is used.

Periodontal Scaling
Instruments
Sickle scalers
Universal Curettes
Area Specific Curettes
Files
Ultrasonic/Sonic Instruments

A, Terminal
shank.
B, Toe.
C, Heel.
D, Tip.
E, Cutting
edge

Comparison of a universal curette to an area-specific curette.

1, The angle formed by the terminal shank and the face of a universal
curette is 90 degrees.
2, The angle formed by the terminal shank and the face of an area-

Periodontal Scaling
Instruments

In the category of area specific

curettes a sub classification exists.
Area Specific Curettes
Gracey Curettes
After five (extended
Vision Curettes
series)
Mini series
Modifications to Gracey Design
Langer series
Furcation series

Rigid series

Gracey Curettes

The original Gracey series

was developed in the 1930's
by Dr. Clayton Gracey, a
periodontist at the
University of Michigan.
They were designed to
provide better access to
root surfaces in deep
pockets.
They feature long shanks
and unique blades, some
with bends improving
access to complex root
surface morphology.

Gracey Curettes

The original series contained 7 double ended instruments

1/2; 3/4; 5/6; 7/8; 9/10; 11/12; 13/14
G F
E
D
C
B
A
In the 1980's, 2 modified instruments were added to the
collection
15/16; 17/18

Gracey Curettes

Gracey curettes 1/2, 3/4, and 5/6 are used

to scale all tooth surfaces in the anterior
sextants.
7/8 and 9/10 are used for scaling the
buccal and lingual aspects of teeth in the
posterior sextants.
11/12 and the 15/16 are used to scale the
mesial aspects of the teeth in the posterior
sextant.
13/14 and 17/18 are used to scale the
distal aspects

Design Characteristics

Standard or Finishing (non-rigids)

Rigid
Extra Rigid
Extended Shanks
Different Blade sizes
Regular
Mini

Design Characteristics

Area specific

Adapt to a specific area or tooth surface

Two curved edges with a blade

Only one cutting edge is used for calculus

removal
Cuttingedge

Face

Lateral
surface

Cuttingedge

Lateral
surface

Back

Design Characteristics

Working end is tilted in relationship to the terminal shank (offset

by 70)

Makes one cutting edge lower than the other

This lower end is the one that is used for instrumentation

Gracey Curettes

Gracey curettes are available in stainless

steel or in carbon steel. Carbon steel
requires more care as it rusts very easily
and also wears away more quickly.
Instruments can come in the form of a
solid one piece instrument (usually
stainless steel) or as a cone socket
instrument (usually carbon steel). With
the cone socket instrument, shank and
blade can be unscrewed and replaced.

Gracey
Curettes

Gracey Curettes
The design of the
Gracey curettes is
unique in that each
end had only one
cutting edge
It can adapt closely
to the specific tooth
surface for which it
is intended.

Gracey Curettes

The cutting or useable edge

of the blade is the lower
outer aspect of the blade.
It can be identified by
holding the terminal shank
of the end in question, blade
side lower, in a vertical
position and viewing the
blade portion head on.
The blade of the curette is
machined at a 70 degree
angle and the cutting edge
exhibits a curve, which is
longer or convex in relation
to the "non-working" edge.

Design characteristics of
the curette
A, Semicircular cross section of the
curette
B, Tip, last third of the working end
C, Toe, which is rounded
D, Face
E, Cutting edge
F, Back
G, Lateral surface

Gracey Curettes
When adapting the Gracey
instruments to the teeth to perform
scaling, the cutting edge must first be
identified and placed against the
surface to be scaled and the terminal
shank should be parallel to that
surface.
In this position, the ideal working
angulation for calculus removal is
achieved.

Identification of the
Cutting Edge

Place shank perpendicular to floor

Lower blade is the cutting edge
Lower shank will be parallel to surface being
scaled

Adapting the Curet Blade

insertion

<45

Healthytissue
Plaqueremoval

4590

Ideal
Calculus
Removal

>90

Tissue
Trauma

Gracey Curettes

Gracey
Curett
es

Gracey curettes

Universal curettes

Area of use

Many curettes for each

sextant and dental
surface

A single curette for all

dental surfaces and
sextants

Working-end

One cutting edge

Two cutting edges

Bending

Working-end has two

bendings towards upper
and lateral

Working-end has one

bending orientated
upperly

Cutting edge
angulation

Working-end makes a 600 Working-end makes a

angle with the terminal
900 angle with the
shank
terminal shank

Rigid series
- a number of four double-ended
instruments
1 /2 , 3 / 4, 5 / 6, 7 /8
- the shank is shorter and more rigid
- used for removing supragingival
calculus (maintanance)
- Are also called prophylactic Graceys
Mini series
curettes
- also called Mini Five / Mini
Bladed
- are derived from the Graceys
curettes
- the working-end is half than a
standard Graceys curette (50% less)
- this allows an easier insertion and
adaptation
deep narrow pockets,
After five in
(extended
furcations,
grooves
-design)
are seven developmental
modified Gracey
curettes
1/2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 11/12 , 13/14 ,
15/16
- the shank is elongated with 3mm
- the workig-end is mini-bladed
- Removing calculus from: crowded
teeth, pockets deeper than 5 mm,

Modifications of an
instrument

A, The working end is shortened by half the regular length, whereas the
working
end - Mini
Five Gracey Standard
B, Conventional
design.

C, The working end has been lengthened for supragingival calculus

removal Rigid Gracey

Each of the three

instruments is a Gracey
1/2