7/8 Gracey Curette

The 7/8 Gracey Curette is a double-ended, area-specific scaling instrument built from surgical-grade stainless steel, featuring a blade face offset at 70 degrees to the terminal shank with a single lower cutting edge on each working end. The instrument carries a large contra-angle with a medium return angle and a terminal shank reach of 12mm — shorter than anterior Gracey figures. The blade measures 0.9mm wide and 4mm long with a rounded toe and back, preventing soft tissue damage during subgingival strokes. The handle features a distinctive grey silicone dot-grip coating — easy to spot on any multi-instrument tray — maintaining a secure hold throughout wet operative conditions.

The Gracey 7/8 is widely regarded as the most versatile instrument in the Gracey series. Its straight shank with a single hooked-toe bend adapts to buccal, lingual, and palatal surfaces of bicuspids and molars, and can also instrument all surfaces of anterior teeth — a clinical range no other single Gracey pattern matches. Each double-ended working end mirrors its opposite, covering both arches without instrument changes.

Dental hygienists and periodontists use the 7/8 Gracey Curette during scaling and root planing on posterior buccal and lingual surfaces for patients with mild to severe periodontitis. The clinician inserts the working end subgingivally with the lower cutting edge against the root and the terminal shank parallel to the tooth surface. Oblique and vertical pull strokes then remove subgingival calculus. On lingual aspects, the straight shank geometry allows the blade to enter the proximal sulcus without contacting adjacent teeth.

Gracey Curette #7/8, Handle #4, Oral/Buccal remains a non-negotiable staple on posterior scaling trays. Leader Surgical produces this instrument with verified blade offset geometry, consistent stainless-steel composition, and a sterilization-safe grey silicone handle coating.

What specific areas is the Gracey 7/8 designed for?
It is primarily used for the buccal (facial) and lingual/palatal surfaces of posterior teeth (premolars and molars). Some clinicians also find it versatile enough for all surfaces of anterior teeth.