Curettes are specialized hand instruments used in dental hygiene and periodontics. Unlike scalers, which have a pointed tip and are primarily used above the gumline (supragingival), curettes are designed with a rounded toe and a rounded back, making them the primary tool for procedures beneath the gumline (subgingival).
Description
A curette typically consists of a handle, a terminal shank, and a working end (the blade). The defining characteristic of a curette is its spoon-shaped working end. They are categorized into two main types:
- Universal Curettes: Designed with two cutting edges on a single blade, allowing them to be used on all tooth surfaces (anterior and posterior) with one instrument.
- Area-Specific Curettes (Gracey Curettes): Designed with only one functional cutting edge. Each instrument is offset at a specific angle (usually 70∘) to the terminal shank, optimized for specific tooth surfaces or regions of the mouth.
Key Features
- Rounded Toe: The tip is blunt and semicircular, which prevents trauma to the soft tissue (junctional epithelium) when working subgingivally.
- Rounded Back: The convex back allows the instrument to glide smoothly against the inner lining of the gingival pocket.
- Shank Flexibility: * Rigid shanks are used for removing heavy, tenacious calculus.
- Flexible shanks provide increased tactile sensitivity for detecting fine residual deposits and root roughness.
- Ergonomic Handles: Modern curettes feature lightweight, large-diameter handles with textured grips to reduce clinician hand fatigue and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome risks.
Usage and Clinical Procedure
Curettes are the “gold standard” for Scaling and Root Planing (SRP). The procedure generally follows these steps:
| Step | Action |
| Insertion | The blade is closed (angled at 0∘ to 40∘ against the tooth) and gently inserted into the pocket until the base of the pocket or the deposit is felt. |
| Adaptation | The lower third of the working end (the “toe-third”) is kept in constant contact with the tooth surface to avoid tissue trauma. |
| Angulation | For effective calculus removal, the blade is opened to an angle between 60∘ and 80∘ relative to the tooth surface. |
| Activation | Controlled, short, “pull” strokes (vertical, oblique, or horizontal) are used to snap the calculus off the root. |
| Root Planing | Longer, lighter strokes are used to smooth the root surface, removing embedded toxins and cementum to promote tissue reattachment. |
Common Area-Specific (Gracey) Examples
- Gracey 1/2 or 3/4: Used for all surfaces of anterior teeth.
- Gracey 7/8 or 9/10: Used for buccal (cheek side) and lingual (tongue side) surfaces of posterior teeth.
- Gracey 11/12: Used for the mesial (front-facing) surfaces of posterior teeth.
- Gracey 13/14: Used for the distal (back-facing) surfaces of posterior teeth.