Gracey curettes (area-specific curettes)

Gracey curettes are area-specific: each pair is shaped to fit certain teeth and surfaces. The face of the blade is tilted about 60 to 70 degrees to the lower shank, and only one edge cuts (the lower, longer one). The blade curves up and to the side. Low numbers are for front teeth and the numbers rise as you move back in the mouth.

How to spot it

• Gracey vs. universal: hold the lower shank straight up and look at the face; a Gracey face tilts (one edge sits lower), a universal face is level.
• One cutting edge per end; a universal has two.
• The number is stamped on the handle; color bands vary by maker, so read the number.

What it is used for

• Root planing and scaling in pockets during hygiene and periodontal visits.
• Set up in number order so the right pair is easy to find.

Safety and care

• Critical item (it goes into soft tissue or touches bone): clean it, package it and heat-sterilize it after every patient.
• Sharp working end: carry it point-down in a closed cassette, and never reach blindly into a pile of instruments.
• Sharpen only the lower cutting edge of a Gracey; sickles and universals are sharpened on both edges.

Related

• Gracey 1/2 and 3/4
• Gracey 5/6
• Gracey 7/8 and 9/10
• Gracey 11/12
• Gracey 13/14
• Gracey 15/16
• Gracey 17/18
• After Five (extended-shank) Gracey
• Mini Five (mini-bladed) Gracey
• Universal curette: Columbia 13/14

Sources: Gehrig JS, Shin DE. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation, 9th ed. Jones & Bartlett, 2023 (plus Newman & Carranza's Clinical Periodontology), Wikipedia. Periodontal curette (pointer only, CC BY-SA), Alharbi H. Periodontal Hand Instruments (lecture handout). King Saud University, 2016-2017, Hu-Friedy Group. Standard Gracey curettes product category