Other Options: Shank and Tip Varieties

Many companies offer thinned tips, extended shanks, After Five-type, Mini, and Micro versions of scalers and curettes. Discuss options with your distributor.

Maintenance-angle curettes (Figure 60) address tighter gingiva after surgery or maintenance with residual pockets or recession. Features typically include:

• Terminal shank honed at approximately 60 degrees (vs traditional approximately 70-degree Gracey angle)

• Shorter, thinner blades than standard Gracey-types, but longer than Mini designs

• Modified rigid shank approximately 2 mm longer than standard

They facilitate insertion in tight tissue and sites with attachment loss. Confirm current product names and availability with manufacturers.

Figure 60.⁷

Figure 60.⁷