This document provides an overview of various periodontal instruments, their classifications, parts, and uses. It discusses different types of instruments including mouth mirrors, probes, explorers, scalers, curettes, sonic and ultrasonic instruments, and surgical instruments. For each type of instrument, the document describes their design features and how they are used to examine or treat patients during nonsurgical and surgical periodontal procedures.

1. 1

2. CONTENTS
 INTRODUCTION
 CLASSIFICATION OF
PERIODONTAL INSTRUMENTS
 PARTS OF INSTRUMENT
 MOUTH MIRRORS
 PERIODONTAL PROBES
 EXPLORERS
 SCALERS
 CURETTES
 SONIC AND ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENTS
 SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
 INSTRUMENT SHARPENING 2

3. INTRODUCTION
 Since ancient times when dental therapists
recognized the importance of removal of calculus
and dental plaque as a treatment for gum disease,
instruments were specifically designed to affect the
procedure.
 Periodontal instruments are designed for specific
purposes ; such as removing calculus , planing root
surfaces ,curetting the gingiva and removing the
diseased tissue.
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4. CLASSIFICATION
 Periodontal probes
 Explorers
 Scaling, root planing and curettage instruments:
a- sickle scaler
b- curettes
c- hoe, chisel and file scaler
d- ultrasonic and sonic scaler
 Periodontal endoscope
 Cleansing and polishing instruments
(CARRANZA 10th ed) 4/56

5. BASIC DESIGN OF INSTRUMENTS
• Optimal weight of periodontal instrument should be less than 15gms.
• Optimal diameter of periodontal instrument should be 10 mm
• Handle texture should have a knurling pattern. 5/56

6. INSTRUMENT BALANCE
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7. SHANK DESIGN
 SIMPLE SHANK: is bent in one plane.
- used for anterior teeth.
 COMPLEX SHANK: is bent in two or more plane.
-Facilitate the instrumentation of posterior teeth.
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8. SHANK FLEXIBILITY
 RIGID SHANK: larger in diameter
- can withstand the pressure required to remove
heavy calculus
 FLEXIBLE SHANK: thinner in diameter.
- enhance the tactile sensitivity.
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9. WORKING END DESIGN
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10. MOUTH MIRROR
 Mouth mirror consists of small, cylindrical , metal
shaft with a metal disk attached at the end of it
which hold the mirror.
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11. SIZES AND FUNCTIONS
SIZES OF MOUTH
MIRROR:
 Size 1: 16mm
 Size 2: 18mm
 Size 3: 20mm
 Size 4: 22mm
 Size 5: 24mm
Functions:
 Indirect vision
 Indirect illumination
 Retraction
 transillumination
Most commonly used mouth mirrors are size 4 and size 5.
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12. PERIODONTAL PROBES
 Are used to locate , measure and mark the pockets
and also to determine their course in individual
tooth.
12

13. WALKING OF PROBE
 Walking stroke is a series of strokes along the
junctional epithelium.
 Each up and down stroke should be exactly 1mm in
length.
 The stroke should be very close together
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14. ADAPTATION AND INTERPROXIMAL
TECHNIQUE
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15. GENERATIONS OF PROBE
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 FIRST GENERATION
 SECOND GENERATION
 THIRD GENERATION
 FOURTH GENERATION
 FIFTH GENERATION
 Williams probe
 UNC 15
 Hunter probe
 Borodontic presuure
sensitive probe
 Florida automated
 Foster miller
 Toronto automated
 Use 3 D visualization
 Ultra sonographic probe

16. EXPLORER
 Are used to locate calculus deposits and caries.
 To locate subgingival deposits and carious areas, to
check smoothness of the root surfaces after root
planing.
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17. SHEPHERD HOOK EXPLORER
 Examination for dental caries and
irregular margins of the restoration.
 E.g : 23 and 54 explorer
STRAIGHT EXPLORER:
 Calculus detection in shallow pockets.
 E.g : 6, 6A, 6L
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18. CURVED EXPLORER
 Calculus detection in normal and
shallow pockets
 E.g : 3 and 3 A
PIGTAIL AND COWHORN
EXPLORER:
 Calculus detection in normal sulci
and shallow pockets extending no
deeper than cervical third of the
root.
 E.g : 3ML, 3CH 18/56

19. ORBAN TYPE EXPLORER
 Tip is bent at 90 degree angle to lower
shank.
 Straight lower shank allows insertion in
narrow pockets.
 E.g: 17, 20F
11/12TYPE EXPLORER:
 Tip is bent at 90 degree like orban
explorer.
 Used in deep pockets
 E.g: ODU 11/12, 11/12 AF 19

20. SICKLE SCALERS
 Used to remove supragingival
calculus
 U15/30 sickle scaler are large in
size.
 Jacquette sickle scaler #1, 2, 3
have medium size.
 Nevi 2 posterior sickle scaler is
used for removal of subgingival
calculus.
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21. CHARACTERISTIC OF SICKLE SCALER
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22. ANTERIOR AND POSTERIOR SCALER
 Anterior scaler: Jacquette30,33,
Goldman H6, H7.
 Posterior scaler: Jacquette 31/32,
Jacquette 34/35
1.ADAPTATION : tip third should be adapted.
2.ANGULATION: 60-70 degree
3.CHARCTERISTIC: short, powerful pull stroke.
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23. STROKE DIRECTION
 VERTICAL STROKE on anterior and mesial and
distal of posterior surface.
 OBLIQUE STROKE used on facial and lingual
surface of posterior teeth.
 HORIZONTAL STROKE used at the line angles of
posterior teeth and mid lines of facial and lingual
teeth.
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CORRECT
ANGULATION

24. TECHNIQUE FOR SCALERS
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25. HOE SCALER
 used for scaling of ledges or rings of
calculus.
 The blade is bent at a 99-degree
angle
 the cutting edge is formed by the
junction of the flattened terminal
surface with the inner aspect of the
blade.
 The cutting edge is bevelled at 45
degrees.
 It can maintain contact at two points
on a convex surface.
 Eg : McCall’s #3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8
are a set of six hoe scalers
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26. CHISEL SCALER AND FILES
 Designed for the proximal surfaces of the
teeth too closely spaced to prevent the use
of other scalers.
 Double ended instrument
 One shank is curved, other straight
 Blades slightly curved
 Staight cutting edges bevelled at 45 degree
 Files are use to fracture or crush large
calculus deposits
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27. CURETTES
 For removing deep subgingival calculus, root
planing altered cementum and removing the soft
tissue lining the periodontal pocket.
 Finer than sickle scaler.
 Provide good access to deep pockets
 CURETTES ARE OF TWO TYPES:
1. UNIVERSAL
2. AREA SPECIFIC
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28. CHARACTERISTICS OF CURETTE
 Inner cutting edge is
used for distal surfaces.
 Outer cutting edge is
used for lingual, facial
and mesial.
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29. AREA SPECIFIC CURETTE
-used in specific areas
-one cutting edge used
-curved in two plane
-offset blade
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30. GRACEY CURETTES
1-2 & 3-4 ANTERIOR TEETH
5-6 ANTERIOR TEETH &
PREMOLARS
7-8 & 9-10 FACIAL & LINGUAL-
POSTERIORS
11-12 MESIAL- POSTERIORS
13-14 DISTAL- POSTERIORS
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31. #15-16 After five curettes
Mini curette
-Increase access
-Reduce trauma
-E.g morse scaler
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32. MINI FIVE CURETTE
 The Mini Five curettes are available in both
finishing and rigid designs.
 Rigid Mini Five curettes are recommended for
calculus removal.
 The more flexible, shanked, finishing Mini Five
curettes are appropriate for light scaling and
deplaquing in periodontal maintenance patients
with tight pockets.
 The Mini Five curettes are available in all standard
Gracey numbers, except the #9-10.
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33. GRACEY CURVETTES
 The Gracey Curvettes are another set of four mini-
bladed curettes
 Sub-0 , #1-2 anterior teeth and premolars.
 #11-12 posterior mesial surfaces
 #13-14 posterior distal surfaces.
 The blade length of these instruments is 50%
shorter than that of the conventional Gracey
curette, and the blade has been curved slightly
upward.
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34. LANGER AND MINI-LANGER
CURETTES
 Set of three curettes
 combines shank design of the standard
Gracey #5-6, 11-12, and 13-14 curettes
with a universal blade honed at 90
degrees rather than the offset blade of the
Gracey curette.
 The Langer #5-6 curette adapts to the
mesial and distal surfaces of anterior
teeth.
 The Langer #1-2 curette (Gracey #11-12
shank) adapts to the mesial and distal
surfaces of mandibular posterior teeth
 The Langer #3-4 curette (Gracey #13-14
shank) adapts to the mesial and distal
surfaces of maxillary posterior teeth 34/56

35. QUETIN FURCATION CURETTE
 Shallow half moon radius
 Fits into the roof or floor of the furcation.
 The shanks are slightly curved for better
access.
 The tips are available in two widths.
 The BL1 and MD1 instruments are small
and fine, with a 0.9-mm blade width.
 The BL2 and MD2 instruments are larger
and wider, with a 1.3-mm blade width.
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36. PLASTIC INSTRUMENTS FOR IMPLANT
 Plastic rather than metal instruments be used to
avoid scarring and permanent damage to the
implants.
 E.g: Coulumbia 4R/4L curette tip,H6-H7 sickle
scaler , 204S sickle scaler tip.
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37. DIAMOND FILES
 Used for final finishing of root surfaces.
 Do not use cutting edges
 Used to remove small embedded calculus on root
surfaces seen with endoscope.
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38. SONIC INSTRUMENTS
 Sonic units consist of a handpiece that attaches to
a compressed-air line .
 Vibrations at the sonic tip range from 2000 to 6500
cps
 provides less power for calculus removal than
ultrasonic units.
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39. ULTRASONIC INSTRUMENT
 Vibration ranges from 20000 to 45000cps
MAGNETOSTRICTIVE
 Pattern of vibration of tip is elliptical.
 All sides are active while working.
PIEZOELECTRIC
The pattern of vibration of the tip is linear
The two sides of the tip are the most active
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40. POWERED INSTRUMENT TIP DESIGN
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STANDARD DIAMETER
TIPS
 Larger in size
 Short shank length
 Heavy deposit removal,
use for supra gingival
calculus removal
SLIM DIAMETER TIPS
 40%smaller diameter
 Long shank length
 Light deposit removal,
 Furcation area
 deplaquing

41. SEQUENCE OF USE OF TIP
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STANDARD DIAMETER TIP for
moderate to heavy calculus
STRAIGHT SLIM DIAMETER for
light to moderate calculus upto 4
mm below CEJ
CURVED SLIM DIAMETER to
remove light to moderate calculus
on post root surfaces greater than
4 mm below CEJ

42. DENTAL ENDOSCOPE
 Allows clear visualization of
deep sub gingival pockets
and in the furcations.
 Consists of 0.99mm
diameter reusable fibre optic
endoscope over which is
fitted a disposable sterile
sheath.
 Magnification ranges from
24X to 46X.
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43. CLEANSING AND POLISHING
INSTRUMENT
 Rubber cups
 Bristle brushes
 Dental tape
 Air powder polishing
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44. SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
 Excisional and incisional instruments
 Surgical curettes and sickles
 Periosteal elevator
 Surgical chisels
 Surgical files
 Scissors
 Haemostats and tissue forceps
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45. EXCISIONAL AND INCISIONAL
INSTRUMENT
 PERIODONTAL KNIVES e.g : Kirkland knife
 INTERDENTAL KNIVES e.g : Orbans knife
 Merifield knife#1,2,3,4
 SURGICAL BLADES : 15C, 15, 12D
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46. SURGICAL CURETTES AND SICKLES
 Used for the removal of granulation tissue, fibrous
interdental tissues, and tenacious sub gingival
deposits during surgery.
 HEAVY CURETTE : Prichard curette
Kirkland curette
 HEAVY SCALER : Ball Scaler #B2-B3
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47. PERIOSTEAL ELEVATOR
 To reflect and move the flap after the incision has
been made for flap surgery.
E.G: The Woodson elevator
 Prichard elevators
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48. SURGICAL CHISEL
Used for removal and reshaping the bone.
- STRAIGHT CHISEL
 E.g : Wiedelstadt , Ochsenbein #1-2.(push motion)
-BACK ACTION CHISEL e.g: Rhodes Chisel (pull
motion).
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49. SURGICAL FILES
 SUGARMAN PERIODONTAL FILE
 SCHLUGER PERIODONTAL FILE
 Used interproximally .
 Filing surfaces of bone on both sides allow for push or
pull application.
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50. TISSUE FORCEPS AND SCISSORS
 used to hold the flap during suturing.
 used to position and displace the flap after the flap
has been reflected.
SCISSORS are used in periodontal surgery to:
 remove tabs of tissue during gingivectomy,
 trim the margins of flaps
 enlarge incisions in periodontal abscesses
 remove muscle attachments in mucogingival
surgery
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51. NEEDLE HOLDER
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52. INSTRUMENT SHAPENING
 The objective of sharpening is to restore the
fine, thin, linear cutting edge of the
instrument .
 Sharpness can be evaluated by sight and
touch .
 Sharpening stones can be natural or
artificial.
 Can be mounted or unmounted.
 Natural abrasive stones : India and
Arkansas oilstones
 Carborundum, ruby, and ceramic stones
are synthetically produced stones.
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53. 53/56

54. CONCLUSION
 The advancing abilities of instrument makers, coupled
with the ingenuity of dental practitioners, have provided
the present practitioner with a multitude of instrument
designs capable of reaching nearly every portion of the
dentition.
 some of the more efficient instruments from past
instruments sets have withstood the test of long-term use
and now appear and reappear in newly created
instrument sets.
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55. REFRENCES
1. Carranza’s clinical periodontology- 10 th edition
2. Carranza’s clinical periodontology- 9th edition
3. Principles & Fundamentals of Periodontal
Instrumentation – 6th edition- Jill S Nield -Gehrig.
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