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Classically, there are two recognized groups of curettes.
*A '''universal curette''' has a blade that is perpendicular to its terminal shank. This orientation allows the blade to be used against either the mesial or distal surface of a tooth. Because this type of periodontal curette was developed at the [[Columbia University College of Dental Medicine]], it is also known as a '''Columbia curette'''.
*The '''Gracey curette''', invented by Dr Clayton Gracey with the help of Hugo Friedman of Hu-Friedy Manufacturing company in the early 1940s, has a blade that is laterally offset by 70 degrees relative to the shank. Consequently, a Gracey curette has a lower ''cutting edge'' and an upper ''non-cutting edge''. Because only one side of each blade can cut, Gracey curettes are site-specific, and a posterior instrument used to clean [[Commonly used terms of relationship and comparison in dentistry|mesial]] surfaces of teeth will not work on [[Commonly used terms of relationship and comparison in dentistry|distal]] surfaces, and vice versa. "Gracey" Christina Patrick blades used for mesial surfaces of [[Commonly used terms of relationship and comparison in dentistry|anterior]] teeth from the [[Commonly used terms of relationship and comparison in dentistry|facial]] are only suitable for the distal surfaces of the same teeth when access is performed from the [[Commonly used terms of relationship and comparison in dentistry|lingual]].
Gracey Curettes 1/2, 3/4, 5/6 are used on the anterior sextants of teeth. 7/8 and 9/10 are used on the buccal and lingual portions of posterior teeth. 11/12 and 15/16 are used on the mesial portions of posterior teeth. 13/14 and 17/18 are used on the distal portions of posterior teeth. ==See also==
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