Instrument Guide · Periodontics
Gracey Curettes — Numbering, Use Cases, and How to Choose
Gracey curettes are area-specific periodontal hand instruments designed for sub-gingival debridement and root planing. The numbering system tells you exactly where each instrument is meant to work — and getting that match right is the difference between efficient scaling and unnecessary tissue trauma.
What is a Gracey curette?
A Gracey curette is a hand-held periodontal instrument with a single working cutting edge per face, a rounded toe, and a face that's offset 60–70° from the lower shank. That offset — combined with the area-specific shank bend — makes Graceys uniquely good at adapting to root surfaces sub-gingivally without the operator having to reposition wrist or fingers.
Unlike sickle scalers (which work supragingivally on smooth surfaces), Gracey curettes are designed to slip under the gingival margin, follow the curvature of the root, and lift cementum-bound calculus and biofilm without lacerating sulcular tissue.
The Gracey numbering system explained
Each Gracey number is paired (1-2, 3-4, 5-6, etc.) and refers to a specific anatomical area. The same instrument has the same blade design at both ends, mirrored, so a single double-ended Gracey covers both mesial and distal surfaces of the same area.
| Number | Anatomical area | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Anterior teeth | Incisors and canines, all surfaces |
| 3-4 | Anterior teeth | Same area, slightly different shank — operator preference |
| 5-6 | Anterior & premolar | Bridges anteriors and premolars |
| 7-8 | Posterior, buccal & lingual | Buccal and lingual molar surfaces |
| 9-10 | Posterior, buccal & lingual | More angulated — for distal pockets |
| 11-12 | Posterior, mesial | Mesial surfaces of posterior teeth |
| 13-14 | Posterior, distal | Distal surfaces of posterior teeth |
| 15-16 | Posterior, mesial | Modified 11-12 with steeper angle |
| 17-18 | Posterior, distal | Modified 13-14 with steeper angle for deeper pockets |
Mini Gracey vs Standard Gracey vs After Five (rigid)
- Standard Gracey: All-round periodontal use, typical for general scaling.
- Mini Gracey: Half the standard blade length — designed for narrow, deep pockets and furcation areas. Easier adaptation in tight spaces.
- After Five (rigid shank): 3 mm longer shank for deeper pockets (5+ mm) plus a thicker, rigid shank for removing heavier sub-gingival deposits without flex.
- Mini Gracey 17-18 / 11-12 (titanium, blue): Implant-safe variants that won't scratch implant surfaces — used for peri-implant maintenance.
Choosing the right Gracey set
Most general practitioners and hygienists work with a core 4-instrument set:
- Gracey 1-2 — anteriors
- Gracey 7-8 — posterior buccal & lingual
- Gracey 11-12 — posterior mesial
- Gracey 13-14 — posterior distal
Periodontists typically extend the set with 15-16 / 17-18 for deeper pockets, and add Mini Graceys for narrow furcations.
The ErgoDenta Gracey range — handle & tip options
ErgoDenta offers Gracey curettes across our four handle systems, so you can match the grip and finish to how you work:
- ErgoTip — modular swap-in tips on a colored ergonomic handle. Sharper edges, longer life, lighter weight. Examples: 203T Gracey 3 ErgoTip, 204T Gracey 4 ErgoTip, 209T Gracey 9 ErgoTip.
- ErgoTip Razor — cryogenically-treated razor edge holds longer between sharpenings. Examples: 203RT Gracey 3 ErgoTip Razor, 204RT Gracey 4 ErgoTip Razor, 209RT Gracey 9 ErgoTip Razor.
- ErgoTip Razor Black/Gold — coated razor finish for tactile contrast against tissue and longer edge retention.
- Mini Gracey Titanium (blue, implant-safe) — for peri-implant maintenance. Examples: Mini Gracey 1-2 Titanium, Mini Gracey 5-6 Titanium, Mini Gracey 7-8 Titanium.
Care & sharpening
- Rinse immediately after use — biofilm dries fast and dulls the edge.
- Ultrasonic clean then autoclave at 134 °C following local protocols.
- Sharpen often on an Arkansas or India stone. A sharp Gracey requires less force, less wrist effort, and less patient discomfort.
- Replace when the blade is half its original length — tip strength drops below safe working limits.
- For ErgoTip swap-tip handles — replace just the tip, keep the handle. Faster, cheaper, less waste.