What type of curette is used for specific area scaling and root planing?

The Gracey curette is specifically designed for area-specific scaling and root planing. This tool has a unique blade design that allows it to adapt effectively to the contour of the tooth surface and provides precise access to root surfaces. Each Gracey curette is angled and designed to instrument a specific tooth surface, either mesial or distal, enhancing its efficiency and allowing for thorough removal of calculus with minimal trauma to the surrounding tissue.

In contrast, the universal curette is versatile and can be used on various tooth surfaces, but it doesn’t provide the same level of specificity as the Gracey curette. A scalpel is used for incisions and surgery rather than for scaling teeth. Hand scalers, while useful for certain types of calculus removal, do not have the same design refinement as Gracey curettes for specific root planing tasks, making them less effective for this particular purpose. The unique features of the Gracey curette make it the best choice for achieving optimal results in scaling and root planing in periodontal therapy.