Universal Curette and its Indication and Function
- Universal curettes have sharp cutting edges on both sides of their blades.
- Only two instruments are necessary – anterior (pink ring) and posterior (purple ring).
- Used for periodontal scaling, calculus debridement, and root planing.
- Can be used both supragingivally and subgingivally.
- Indicated for nonsurgical periodontal therapy.
- Helps eliminate inflammation and return the periodontium back to health.
- Controls bacterial levels in the mouth.
- Oral health education is provided to control calculus and plaque buildup.
Design Characteristics of Universal Curette
- Double-ended instrument with paired mirror-image working ends.
- Rounded back and rounded toe with a semicircular cross-section.
- Face of the instrument is at a 90-degree angle to the lower shank.
- Contains two cutting edges on either side of the working end.
- Shank length, design, and blade size may vary.
Types of Universal Curette
- Numerous different universal curettes with slight design differences.
- Columbia 13/14, Barnhardt 5/6, and Younger Good 7/8 curettes have shorter lower shanks.
- Columbia 4R/4L, Columbia 2R/2L, and Barnhardt 1/2 instruments have longer lower shanks.
- 10/11 Loma Linda and R 144 Queen of Hearts have longer lower shanks with blade designs for line angles.
- Recommended indication of use varies based on pocket depths and tooth surfaces.
Technique for Using Universal Curette
- Proper positioning of patient and operator is important.
- Modified-pen grasp is used to operate the instrument.
- Pressure is applied with index finger and thumb on the instrument handle.
- Working-end is adapted to the crown or root surface at a 70-80 degree angle.
- Different strokes are used based on the tooth surface being addressed.
Advantages and Limitations of Periodontal Curettes
- Periodontal curettes are finer than sickle scalers and do not have sharp points or corners, minimizing soft tissue trauma.
- Curettes can be adapted around the tooth surface, providing better access to deep pockets.
- Gracey curettes are ideal for subgingival scaling and root planing due to their design.
- Sickle scalers are primarily used for supragingival calculus removal.
- Sickle scalers have a stronger tip that is less likely to break off during use.
The periodontal curette is a type of hand-activated instrument used in dentistry and dental hygiene for the purpose of scaling and root planing. The periodontal curette is considered a treatment instrument and is classified into two main categories: universal curettes and Gracey curettes. Periodontal curettes have one face, one or two cutting edges and a rounded back and rounded toe. They are typically the instrument of choice for subgingival calculus removal.
Universal and Gracey curettes are typically used during nonsurgical periodontal therapy of a patient's dental hygiene care. The goal of nonsurgical periodontal therapy is to eliminate inflammation and return the patient's periodontium back to health. One of the ways this can be achieved is by minimizing the bacterial challenge to the patient. To control the bacterial levels in the mouth, oral health education is provided to the patient to control calculus and plaque buildup. An important component of removal and management of bacterial levels in the mouth is the use of hand instruments, such as Gracey curettes and universal curettes, that remove calculus deposits contaminating the tooth surface supragingivally and subgingivally. This is vital to nonsurgical periodontal therapy because scaling and root planing reduces bacterial biofilms in the mouth that are associated with inflammation. A research study suggests that periodontal root debridement is a key factor that influences the success of gaining periodontal attachment on previously infected root surfaces.
