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Gracey 17/18

Also called: Gracey 17/18

A modified 13/14 for distal surfaces of back teeth, easier to reach the far molars.

The Gracey 17/18 is based on the 13/14 but its shank is more deeply angled with several bends, its terminal (lower) shank is longer, and its blade is about 1 mm shorter, which makes it easier to reach the distal surfaces of the last molars.

How to spot it

  • Like a 13/14 with an even more angled shank, a longer lower shank and a slightly shorter blade.

What it is used for

  • Scaling distal surfaces of molars, especially second and third molars.

Safety and care

  • Critical item (it goes into soft tissue or touches bone): clean it, package it and heat-sterilize it after every patient.
  • Sharp working end: carry it point-down in a closed cassette, and never reach blindly into a pile of instruments.

Related

Sources: Gehrig JS, Shin DE. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation and Advanced Root Instrumentation, 9th ed. Jones & Bartlett, 2023 (plus Newman & Carranza's Clinical Periodontology), Wikipedia. Periodontal curette (pointer only, CC BY-SA), Dentalcare.com CE569. 15/16 and 17/18 Gracey Curettes