The syntette combines the benefits of a universal

curette A curette is a surgical instrument designed for scraping or debriding biological tissue or debris in a biopsy, excision, or cleaning procedure. In form, the curette is a small hand tool, often similar in shape to a stylus; at the tip of the cu ...

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 oral structures. Examination instruments These tools allow dental ...

used by

dentists A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofacial comp ...

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 hygien ...

s to remove

calculus Calculus, originally called infinitesimal calculus or "the calculus of infinitesimals", is the mathematical study of continuous change, in the same way that geometry is the study of shape, and algebra is the study of generalizations of arithm ...

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 unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position pro ...

surfaces on all teeth throughout the

mouth In animal anatomy, the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, or in Latin cavum oris, is the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds. It is also the cavity lying at the upper end of the alimentary canal, bounded on ...

. 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, tear ...

and pushed under the

gingiva The gums or gingiva (plural: ''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 lini ...

, 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 separ ...

/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,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

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 good or service from those of other sellers. Brands are used in business, marketing, and advertising for recognition and, importantly, to create an ...

s Scandette and Double Gracey.

References

Dental equipment