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Gracey 13/14 Usage — NDEB AFK MCQ

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EasyPeriodontologyGracey 13/14 UsageNDEB AFK

Which of the following is the correct technique for using the Gracey 13/14 curette?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Adapting to the distal surfaces of posterior teeth

Gracey 13/14 curettes are area-specific instruments designed for scaling and root planing the distal surfaces of posterior teeth. The blade has a single cutting edge (the lower, longer edge when the face is tilted toward the tooth) and is angled 70° to the terminal shank. Correct adaptation requires identifying the correct cutting edge and maintaining the 70° face-to-tooth angle. Gracey 11/12 is for mesial posterior surfaces. Gracey 7/8 is for buccal/lingual posterior surfaces.

Reference: Newman – Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology, 13th ed., 2019