Start here · Tools · Surgery and extractions
Scalpel blades (#15, #12, #11)
Also called: #15 blade, #12 blade, #11 blade, surgical blade
Disposable sterile blades: #15 is the usual oral surgery blade.
The #15 blade is small and curved and is the most used blade inside the mouth, for cuts around teeth and through soft tissue. The #12 is hooked and reaches behind teeth. The #11 is sharp-pointed for small stab cuts, such as draining an abscess.
How to spot it
- #15: small curved belly.
- #12: hooked like a crescent.
- #11: straight edge with a sharp point.
What it is used for
- Opened onto the sterile field and attached to the handle just before use.
Safety and care
- Single-use, sterile sharps: dispose of in the sharps container.
Related
Sources: Majid M. Oral Surgery Lec. 9+10: Basic surgical instruments. Al-Mustansiriyah University, OSHA. Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030