Advanced Instrumentation for the General Practice Dental Hygienist
Course Number: 569
Course Contents
15/16 and 17/18 Gracey Curettes
The 15/16 Gracey-type curette improves access to molar mesial surfaces where positioning a standard 11/12 is difficult. It is used on posterior mesials but uses a shank pattern similar to a 13/14 (Figures 11-12). The increased angle often allows a more traditional intraoral fulcrum (Figures 13-14).
The 17/18 Gracey-type curette improves access to posterior distal surfaces (Figure 15). Deep shank angulation and multiple bends provide crown clearance and reduce handle interference with the opposing arch. A long terminal shank and reduced blade length help in deep distal pockets, furcations, and concavities. Compared with a 13/14 After Five-type, the 17/18 terminal shank is nearly as long; the blade is typically about 1 mm shorter than a standard Gracey blade (Figures 16-19).
Figure 11. 15/16 Gracey Curette.
Figure 12. 13/14, 11/12, 15/16.
Figure 13. 11/12 Gracey Curette.
Figure 14. 15/16 Gracey Curette.
Figure 15. 17/18 Gracey Curette.
Figure 16. 13/14, 13/14 AF, 17/18.
Figure 17. 13/14, 17/18.
Figure 18. 13/14 Gracey.
Figure 19. 17/18 Gracey.