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15/16 & 17/18 Gracey Curettes

15/16 & 17/18 Gracey Curettes

• In this tutorial you will learn:– Gracey Curettes overview– What 15/16 and 17/18 Gracey Curettes are– Features and benefits of 15/16 and 17/18 Gracey

Curettes– Illustrated uses of 15/16 and 17/18 Gracey Curettes

Introduction

• Gracey Curettes are area-specific to allow for deep scaling, root planing and periodontal debridement.

• The offset blade provides perfect working angulation for the tooth surface.– Only the lower cutting edge of each

blade is used.

Gracey Blade Design• Here is an illustration showing how the Gracey blade design

is offset from the shank at 70°.

• This creates one cutting edge which is referred to as the lower edge.

Rigid Gracey Curettes

• Thicker, stronger, and less flexible shank.

• The rigid shank is preferred for heavier calculus removal.

• Although the shank is wider, the blade width is the same as a standard Gracey.

Standard Rigid

After Five Gracey Curettes

• Designed for instrumentation in deeper periodontal pockets.

• Elongated terminal shank (3mm).

• Blade thinned by 10% to ease gingival insertions and reduce tissue distention.

• Provides increased crown clearance.

3mm

Mini Five Gracey Curettes

• Designed with the same elongated terminal shank (3mm) and thinned blades as the After Five Gracey Curettes.

• 50% shorter blade for access to smaller roots, narrow pockets, furcations, and developmental grooves.

Standard After Five Mini Five

15/16 & 17/18 Gracey Curettes

• In this tutorial, we will focus on the newest Graceys:– Gracey 15/16 Mesial – Gracey 17/18 Distal

• These curettes provide the perfect complementary pair of instruments to scale difficult to reach posterior teeth.

15/16 Gracey Curette

• The 15/16 Gracey Curette was introduced in 1993.

• It is designed for increased access to molars, where it can be difficult to position the 11/12 Gracey Curette correctly.

• Mesial posterior use

• Shank bends similar to 13/14 Gracey, but with the blade offset to scale mesial surfaces of posterior teeth.

Comparison of Graceys

• The 15/16 Gracey Curette (right) has the same shank design as the 13/14 (left); however, the blade is finished like an 11/12 (center) for the posterior mesial surfaces.

15/1613/14 11/12

15/16 Gracey Curette11/12 Gracey Curette – Mandibular First Molar

• It is often difficult to correctly position the shank parallel to the mesial surface using an 11/12 Gracey Curette. Notice the handle position.

15/16 Gracey Curette – Mandibular First Molar• The increased angle of the 15/16 Gracey Curette facilitates

correct positioning (resulting in an improved scaling angle) in posterior areas.

11/12 Gracey 15/16 Gracey

15/16 Gracey Curette11/12 Gracey Curette – Maxillary Molar - Extraoral Fulcrum

• In this region of the mouth, it is usually necessary to use an extraoral fulcrum to achieve a parallel shank angle with the 11/12.

15/16 Gracey Curette – Maxillary Molar - Intraoral Fulcrum• The increased angle of the 15/16 provides superior adaptation

in this area, and allows the choice of an intraoral fulcrum position.

11/12 Gracey 15/16 Gracey

17/18 Gracey Curette

• The 17/18 Gracey Curette is designed to improve access to the distal surfaces of posterior teeth.

• Accentuated angles and long terminal shank allows for placement into deep periodontal.

• The multiple bends improve the handle positioning so interference from the opposing arch is significantly reduced.

• Reduced blade length enhances adaptation of the entire blade to the tooth.

Comparison of Graceys• The accentuated angles on the 17/18 (far right) are its

most distinguishing feature.

• These angles improve crown clearance and handle positioning so that access to the distal surfaces of second and third molars is greatly increased.

13/14 13/14AF 17/18

17/18 Gracey Curette

• The terminal shank is almost as long as an After Five Gracey, which increases access in periodontal pockets.

• The blade is 1mm shorter than standard Gracey blades which enables adaptation of more of the blade to the tooth.

13/14

After Five17/18

Gracey

Terminal Shank and Blade Comparison

13/14 After Five and 17/18 Gracey Curette

17/18 Gracey Curette13/14 Gracey Curette

• Access to the distal surface of a second molar is limited by interference from the opposing arch and the patient’s ability to open widely.

17/18 Gracey Curette • With the 17/18’s multiple bends, the handle position is closer to

horizontal which minimizes the contact with the opposing arch. Allowing the clinician improved access to difficult to reach posterior areas.

13/14 Gracey 17/18 Gracey

17/18 Gracey Curette

17/18 Gracey Curette on Mandible (Skull)• Access is improved through the multiple

exaggerated bends of the 17/18.

17/18 Gracey

17/18 Gracey Curette

17/18 Gracey and 17/18 Rigid Gracey Curettes• The 17/18 is available in Standard (on left) and Rigid

(on right) designs. • The rigid shank is thicker, providing additional strength

for heavy calculus removal.

Standard Rigid

17/18 Gracey Curette

Comparison of Gracey 17/18, 15/16 and After Five 15/16• The 17/18 Gracey (right) is the ideal companion to the

15/16 Gracey (left) or the 15/16 After Five (center). • These instruments improve access to the most difficult to

reach posterior teeth.

17/1815/16AF15/16

Available Designs

• 17/18 Available in: - Standard - Rigid

• 15/16 Available in: - Standard - Rigid - After Five® - Mini Five®

Mini Five®

After Five®

Rigid Standard

Summary• The Gracey 15/16 Mesial and 17/18 Distal curettes provide

the perfect complementary pair of instruments to scale difficult to reach posterior teeth.

• 15/16 – Shank bends similar to the Gracey 13/14 but with the blades

offset to scale mesial surfaces of the posterior teeth.

• 17/18 – Accentuated shank angles and long terminal shank for deep

perio pockets.– Reduced blade length.

• Available in:– Standard: SG15/16 & SG17/18– Rigid: SGR15/16R & SGR17/18R– After Five (15/16 only): SRPG15/16 – Mini Five (15/16 only): SAS15/16– #2,4,6,7,8, & 9(EverEdge)

Conclusion

• As a clinician, the Hu-Friedy Gracey 15/16 Mesial and 17/18 Distal will make your job easier in reaching posterior teeth.

• These great designs will help you to overcome the toughest of scaling assignments.

Qualifying Question

• Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Hu-Friedy’s 15/16 and 17/18 Gracey Curettes.

• To earn your Hu-Points towards a product evaluation, please exit and answer the following question on the Member Resources Page:

The Gracey 15/16 has shank bends similar to the Gracey ______ but with the blade offset.

a) 7/8b) 11/12c) 13/14d) 17/18