Celebrating 80 Years of the Revolutionary Gracey Curette
This Dental Hygiene Month, we celebrate 80 years of the Gracey Curette: a revolutionary instrument that transformed dental hygiene. Since its introduction in 1945, it has expanded into a family of designs that continues to improve patient outcomes and hygienist ergonomics.
The Gracey Curette Origin Story
In the early years of dental hygiene early 1900’s, clinicians were limited to universal curettes and scalers for periodontal treatment. These instruments were effective for general use but inadequate for deep, site-specific scaling.
That changed in 1945 when Dr. Clayton Gracey collaborated with HuFriedyGroup founder Hugo Friedman to design a new line of instruments. Their goal: to effectively access the deepest and least accessible periodontal pockets without traumatizing the surrounding gingiva tissue.
The result was the Gracey Curette: a set of area-specific instruments designed to adapt precisely to root surfaces. With its offset blade and ergonomic shank design, the Gracey Curette offered better deposit removal while minimizing trauma to gingival tissue. Over time, it became the global standard for periodontal instrumentation.
How the Gracey Curette Developed Over Time
The Gracey Curette’s development reflects decades of refinement in both form and function:·
1950s: Widely adopted in dental hygiene schools and periodontal practice.
1980s: Ergonomic handle refinements improved clinician comfort and control.
1990s: Introduction of After Five, Mini Five, and Micro-mini designs enabled better access to deep pockets and narrow root anatomy.
2000s: Launch of EverEdge and EverEdge® 2.0 blades, engineered for sharper, longer-lasting edges.
Staying true to Dr. Gracey’s vision, the instrument has continually evolved with variations in shank design, handle weight, and blade length, expanding dental hygienists’ ability to deliver effective, customized treatment.
Why the Gracey Curette Became the Gold Standard
The Gracey Curette quickly gained prominence for its ability to improve clinical outcomes. Key benefits include:
- Site-specific design: Provides precise adaptation to root surfaces.
- Offset blades with rounded backs: Reduces gingival tissue trauma.
- Extended functional shanks: Enables access to deep periodontal pockets.
- Shank flexibility options: Flexible shanks improve tactile sensitivity for light calculus removal.
- Rigid or extra-rigid shanks allow effective removal of tenacious deposits.
Modern Innovations in the Gracey Line
Eighty years later, the Gracey Curette remains a trusted standard in periodontology, with specialized adaptations that meet the needs of today’s clinicians. These innovations can be grouped into three categories:
Enhanced Access Tools
- After Five Gracey Curettes: Terminal shank extended 3mm, with a blade 10% thinner than standard Graceys. This is ideal for deep pockets and areas with recession.
- Mini Five Gracey Curettes: Blade is 10% thinner and 50% shorter than standard, with a 3mm longer shank. This is perfect for narrow roots and deep pockets.
- Micro-mini Graceys: Designed for the tightest root anatomies, offering exceptional adaptability.
Strength & Durability
- Rigid/Extra Rigid Gracey Curettes: Provide greater strength for heavy or tenacious deposit removal, without altering blade size.
- EverEdge® 2.0: Engineered steel maintains sharper edges longer, reducing the number of strokes needed and increasing patient comfort. Proven by third-party testing to be the sharpest, and longest lasting. And it can be resharpened for extended life.
Practitioner Terri Lively noted in Dental Products Report: “I’m more effective with deposit removal using EE2.0 than any other instrument; it’s that sharp.”
Specialized Tools for Modern Practice
- Anna Pattison Periodontal Maintenance Curettes: Shorter, thinner blades at a 60° angle with modified rigid shanks for easier insertion under tight tissue.
- Titanium Implant Scalers: Designed from the same titanium alloy as implants and abutments. These are safe for implant maintenance, stain removal, and debridement.
- Harmony™ Ergonomic Scaler Handles: Reduce pinch force by 65% and tooth pressure by 37%, improving clinician comfort.
Additionally, Gracey Curettes are available in HuFriedyGroup’s Resin 8 Colors, allowing for ergonomic grip and easy color-coding by area of use.
For 80 years, the Gracey Curette has stood as a symbol of innovation in dental hygiene — helping clinicians achieve better outcomes with less effort. Today, it continues to evolve, combining precision engineering with ergonomic design.
Tell us in the comments: As we look ahead, innovation never stops. What features or designs would you like to see in the next generation of Gracey Curettes?