Complete Periodontal Instrument Range at SurgiWorld

Our periodontal range covers every instrument used across the full scope of hygiene appointments, scaling and root planing procedures, and periodontal maintenance visits:

Gracey Curettes — The Gold Standard for Root Planing

Gracey curettes are area-specific instruments — each numbered pair is designed to access and instrument specific tooth surfaces in specific areas of the mouth. This area specificity gives Gracey curettes a critical clinical advantage: the offset blade angle and curved face allow subgingival adaptation that universal curettes cannot replicate at deeper pocket depths.

Gracey Curette Number Reference

Universal Curettes — Versatile Workhorses for General Debridement

Universal curettes have two cutting edges and can be adapted to all tooth surfaces in all areas of the mouth — making them the most efficient instrument for general supragingival and moderate subgingival debridement. They are not area-specific like Graceys, which means the same instrument can be used throughout the mouth without switching.

Columbia 4R/4L — the most widely used universal curette in clinical practice. The 4R (right) and 4L (left) pair provides full-mouth coverage. Heavy shank, robust blade — suited for heavy calculus removal.

Barnhart 5/6 — slightly finer blade than the Columbia, offering better tactile sensitivity for moderate calculus and root surface assessment. Popular in hygiene programs across Canadian dental schools.

Indiana University 3/4 — intermediate blade weight between Barnhart and Columbia, used in both anterior and posterior regions.

Sickle Scalers — Supragingival Calculus Removal

Sickle scalers are the primary instruments for removing heavy supragingival calculus and gross deposits above the gum line. Their pointed tip and triangular cross-section deliver powerful lateral and pull strokes against tenacious deposits that ultrasonic scalers alone may not fully remove.

Anterior Sickle Scalers (H6/H7)

The H6/H7 pair is the standard anterior sickle scaler set used across Canadian and US dental practices. The straight design and moderate blade size provide direct access to anterior teeth with controlled lateral pressure. The double-ended format (H6 on one end, H7 on the other) gives the clinician both a push and pull stroke option in a single instrument.

Posterior Sickle Scalers (Jacquette #30/31)

The Jacquette #30/31 posterior sickle scaler has an angled shank that allows access to the distal and mesial surfaces of posterior teeth where anterior scalers cannot reach without compromising stroke direction. The blade is angled 90 degrees to the shank for effective posterior calculus removal.

File Scalers (Hirschfeld)

File scalers are used for burnished or tenacious calculus that has been compressed against the root surface and is resistant to standard scaler removal. They are a supplementary instrument — not a replacement for curettes — used selectively on heavily calcified deposits before root planing.

Periodontal Probes — Pocket Assessment and Disease Monitoring

Periodontal probes are calibrated instruments used to measure sulcus and pocket depth, assess bleeding on probing, detect furcation involvement, and chart gum recession. Accurate pocket readings depend entirely on probe quality — probes with faded markings, bent tips, or inconsistent calibration introduce clinical error into periodontal charting.

Williams Probe

Marked at 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10mm — the Williams probe is the most widely taught probe in Canadian and US dental hygiene programs. The colour-banded version (3–5mm and 8–10mm bands) allows rapid visual reading without counting individual marks.

UNC-15 Probe

Marked at every millimetre from 1 to 15mm with colour bands at 5, 10, and 15mm. The UNC-15 is preferred for measuring deep pockets (greater than 7mm) where the Williams probe markings do not extend far enough. It is the probe of choice for periodontitis patients in active treatment.

CPITN/WHO Probe

The Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN) probe has a 0.5mm ball tip and a coloured band from 3.5 to 5.5mm. It is used for community periodontal screening and epidemiological assessments. The ball tip protects against false-positive bleeding and soft tissue trauma during screening.

Colour-Coded Probes

Colour-coded probes with alternating black and white banding at standard intervals (3–3–2–2mm or similar) allow the clinician to assess pocket depth at a glance without counting individual millimetre marks — reducing charting time significantly in high-volume practices.

Quality Standards — What to Verify Before Buying Periodontal Instruments in Canada

Bulk Orders, Dental Schools & DSO Procurement

SurgiWorld supplies periodontal instruments in individual units, complete curette sets, and cassette-format hygiene kits for institutional procurement across Canada and the USA:

• Complete Gracey curette sets (#1/2 through #13/14) as standardised kits for hygiene operatories
• Student instrument kit programs for Canadian dental hygiene colleges and university dental programs
• DSO bulk pricing for standardised instrument specifications across multi-location practices
• Cassette-format hygiene kits for streamlined sterilisation and IPAC compliance
• Custom kit configurations for specific clinic workflows and procedure mixes

Frequently Asked Questions — Periodontal Instruments

What is the difference between Gracey curettes and universal curettes?

Gracey curettes are area-specific instruments — each numbered pair is designed for a specific tooth surface and area of the mouth. They have one cutting edge and an offset blade angle that allows precise subgingival adaptation at depth. Universal curettes (such as the Columbia 4R/4L) have two cutting edges and can be used throughout the mouth without switching instruments. Gracey curettes are preferred for precise root planing in deeper pockets; universal curettes are more efficient for general supragingival debridement and initial scaling. Most Canadian dental hygienists use both in their clinical workflow.

Which Gracey curette is used for distal surfaces of posterior teeth?

The Gracey #13/14 is specifically designed for the distal surfaces of posterior teeth. Its blade and shank angulation allow the working end to adapt to distal surfaces that are inaccessible with most other instruments. The Gracey #11/12 is the corresponding instrument for mesial surfaces. These two pairs — #11/12 and #13/14 — are the most frequently used curettes in periodontal maintenance appointments and are considered essential in any complete curette set.

What periodontal instruments are needed for scaling and root planing (SRP)?

A complete scaling and root planing instrument setup includes: anterior sickle scalers (H6/H7) for supragingival calculus removal, a complete Gracey curette set (#1/2 through #13/14) for area-specific subgingival root planing, a universal curette (Columbia 4R/4L or Barnhart 5/6) for general debridement, After Five or Mini Five mini-bladed Graceys for pockets deeper than 5mm, a periodontal probe (UNC-15 recommended for SRP cases) for pocket measurement before and after treatment, and an explorer for tactile assessment of root surface smoothness.

How often should dental curettes be replaced?

Dental curettes should be evaluated every 6 to 12 months depending on clinical volume and sharpening history. An instrument that no longer takes or holds a sharp edge after sharpening should be replaced immediately — a dull curette requires more lateral pressure, increasing soft tissue trauma and reducing root surface accuracy. High-quality curettes manufactured from German 4034 stainless steel, such as those supplied by SurgiWorld, hold their edge significantly longer than lower-grade instruments, reducing replacement frequency and total cost of ownership.

What periodontal probe is best for Canadian dental clinics?

The UNC-15 probe is widely considered the most versatile periodontal probe for clinical use in Canadian dental practices. Its 1mm incremental markings from 1 to 15mm with colour bands at 5, 10, and 15mm allow accurate pocket measurement across all periodontal conditions — from healthy sulci (1–3mm) to moderate pockets (4–6mm) to deep periodontal pockets (7mm or greater). For community-level screening, the CPITN/WHO probe is the standard. For general hygiene practices, the Williams probe with colour banding is efficient and widely taught in Canadian dental hygiene programs.

Where can I buy Gracey curettes online in Canada?

Gracey curettes and complete curette sets are available from SurgiWorld (thesurgiworld.com), a Health Canada MDEL-licensed dental instrument supplier based in Waterloo, Ontario. SurgiWorld supplies individual Gracey pairs, full #1/2 through #13/14 sets, and After Five and Mini Five variants — all ISO & CE certified, manufactured from German stainless steel, and backed by a lifetime manufacturing defect warranty. Fast shipping across Canada and the USA.

Do periodontal instruments need to be CE certified in Canada?

Yes. Periodontal instruments are classified as Class II medical devices in Canada and must be supplied by a Health Canada MDEL-licensed establishment. CE marking is the internationally accepted standard demonstrating compliance with medical device safety, quality, and dimensional accuracy requirements. Always verify your supplier holds a current MDEL licence before purchasing instruments for clinical use. SurgiWorld is MDEL licensed and all periodontal instruments carry CE marking and ISO 7153-1 certification.