The syntette combines the benefits of a universal

curette A curette is a surgical instrument designed for scraping or debridement, debriding biological tissue or debris in a biopsy, :wikt:excision, excision, or cleaning procedure. In form, the curette is a small hand tool, often similar in shape to a ...

and a Gracey

in one. It is a

dental instrument Dental instruments are tools that dental professionals use to provide dental treatment. They include tools to examine, manipulate, treat, restore, and remove teeth and surrounding mouth, oral structures. Examination instruments These tools allow ...

used by

dentists A dentist, also known as a dental doctor, dental physician, dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry, the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. The dentist's supporting team aids in providi ...

and

dental hygienist A dental hygienist or oral hygienist is a licensed dental professional, registered with a dental association or regulatory body within their country of practice. Prior to completing clinical and written board examinations, registered dental hygie ...

s to remove

calculus Calculus is the mathematics, mathematical study of continuous change, in the same way that geometry is the study of shape, and algebra is the study of generalizations of arithmetic operations. Originally called infinitesimal calculus or "the ...

subgingivally on the

mesial This is a list of definitions of commonly used terms of location and direction in dentistry. This set of terms provides orientation within the oral cavity, much as anatomical terms of location provide orientation throughout the body. Terms ...

and

distal Standard anatomical terms of location are used to describe unambiguously the anatomy of humans and other animals. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position provi ...

surfaces on all teeth throughout the

mouth A mouth also referred to as the oral is the body orifice through which many animals ingest food and animal communication#Auditory, vocalize. The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or in Latin), is also t ...

. The syntette is held parallel to the

tooth A tooth (: teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, tea ...

and pushed under the

gingiva The gums or gingiva (: gingivae) consist of the mucosal tissue that lies over the mandible and maxilla inside the mouth. Gum health and disease can have an effect on general health. Structure The gums are part of the soft tissue lining of the ...

, rotated slightly and moved upwards in a ‘pull’ stroke (vertical movement). Care must be taken not to get it stuck between the contact points of the teeth. The correct seating positions must be used, which position depends on where in the mouth you are working. Fulcrums (resting one finger on an adjacent tooth for stability) must always be used, preferably with the shank resting on the fulcrum finger. The syntette has two elliptical cutting edges and a rounded toe. Double ended – one end for buccal/labial surfaces, the other for

palatal The palate () is the roof of the mouth in humans and other mammals. It separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity. A similar structure is found in crocodilians, but in most other tetrapods, the oral and nasal cavities are not truly sepa ...

/lingual surfaces. The syntette was created by Leif Ericsson, Västervik Hospital,

Västervik Västervik is a city status in Sweden, city and the seat of Västervik Municipality, Kalmar County, Sweden, with 36,747 inhabitants in 2021. Västervik is one of three coastal towns with a notable population size in the province of Småland. Cl ...

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic countries, Nordic country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, and Finland to the east. At , Sweden is the largest Nordic count ...

in the 1980s. Leif Ericsson himself describes the inventing process and naming of the instrument as follows: ::"Special finishing curettes Gracey 11/12 and 13/14 had been on the market since many years. Two popular instruments which, however, demanded switching instrument in the same interproximal space: Gracey 11/12 for mesial surfaces and Gracey 13/14 for distal surfaces. A simple thought – combine the instruments! A synthesis of two curettes – a Syntette." The Syntette has been featured in several peer reviewed articles.{{Cite journal , last1=Esberg , first1=Anders , last2=Isehed , first2=Catrine , last3=Holmlund , first3=Anders , last4=Lindquist , first4=Susanne , last5=Lundberg , first5=Pernilla , date=December 2021 , title=Serum proteins associated with periodontitis relapse post-surgery: A pilot study , url=https://aap.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/JPER.21-0089 , journal=Journal of Periodontology , language=en , volume=92 , issue=12 , pages=1805–1814 , doi=10.1002/JPER.21-0089 , pmid=33813739 , issn=0022-3492 In addition to the original Syntette, a similar design was introduced under the

brand name A brand is a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that distinguishes one seller's goods or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create and ...

s Scandette and Double Gracey.

References

Dental equipment