Columbia Curette Flashcards
How does the columbia curette look ?
The curette has a curved spoon-shaped blade and two cutting edges, which meet to form a rounded toe
The back of the instrument is rounded
What makes the columbia curette unique?
no sharp corners or points to gouge the root surface or lacerate the gingiva.
What are the areas of application?
Supra and especially sub gingivally throughout the mouth
How is it used?
With its face flush with the tooth surface, the blade is inserted into the pocket. Using light lateral pressure against the root surface, an exploratory stroke is made down to the base of the pocket. If calculus is encountered, the angle between the face and the blade of the tooth is adjusted to approximately 90 degrees and short overlapping scaling strokes are made with firm lateral pressure until all the calculus has been removed. With the blade at a working angulation of about 70 degrees to prevent undue removal of tooth substance, the root is then planed until smooth and hard
What are its limitations?
If the blade is engaged at less than 45 degrees to the tooth surface the instrument will only slide over or burnish the deposit, and the calculus will not be removed. If the blade is engaged at more than 90 degrees, the lateral surface of the blade rather than the cutting edge will be against the tooth. Failure to remove calculus and trauma to the soft tissue would result.
What is the columbia curette
a double ended universal curette with 2 cutting edges on each blade for supragingival and sub gingival scaling anywhere in the mouth but with limited access to deep pockets
