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A Gracey Curette is a periodontal hand instrument used in dentistry, especially for scaling and root planing (deep cleaning of teeth and roots). It is area-specific, meaning each Gracey curette is designed to clean a particular tooth surface.
🔹 Key Features:
Area-specific: Unlike a universal curette, only one cutting edge of a Gracey curette is sharpened and used.
Blade angulation: The blade is offset at about 70° to the shank, which allows the lower cutting edge to be used against the tooth surface.
Rounded back and toe: This design prevents trauma to gum tissue while working inside periodontal pockets.
Shank design: Long and curved shanks provide access to deep or narrow pockets around different teeth.
🔹 Common Types and Their Uses :
Gracey 1–2 → Anterior teeth (all surfaces)
Gracey 7–8 / 9–10 → Posterior teeth (buccal and lingual surfaces)
Gracey 11–12 → Posterior teeth (mesial surfaces)
Gracey 13–14 → Posterior teeth (distal surfaces)
Gracey 15- 16 : posterior teeth ( mesial surfaces)
Gracey 17- 18 : posterior teeth ( distal surfaces)
🔹Clinical Use:
Removes calculus (tartar), plaque, and bacterial biofilm from teeth.
Smoothens root surfaces (root planing) to help gums reattach to teeth.
Provides tactile sensitivity to detect roughness or calculus below the gumline.
In short, a Gracey Curette is a specialized, site-specific dental instrument designed for safe and precise cleaning of different tooth surfaces during periodontal therapy.
