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Periodontal chisel
Also called: Zerfing chisel, chisel scaler
A straight, beveled blade pushed between lower front teeth to break off heavy tartar.
A chisel has a flat, straight cutting edge beveled at about 45 degrees. It is pushed from the cheek side toward the tongue side between lower front teeth to break off heavy bridges of calculus.
How to spot it
- A straight shank ending in a flat, beveled edge, like a tiny wood chisel.
What it is used for
- Push stroke from facial to lingual on proximal surfaces of anterior teeth.
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.