A review of Hu-Friedy's EverEdge 2.0 Gracey Curettes

Hygiene is a huge part of your patients’ overall oral health. When it comes to hygiene instruments, investing in a curette that will do the job well and stay sharp can make all the difference to your results - and hand fatigue.

Since the 1940s, the Gracey Curette, invented by Dr. Clayton Gracey with the help of Hugo Friedman of Hu-Friedy, has been an integral part of many hygienists’ instrument inventories. Hu-Friedy touts their latest Gracey curette, the EverEdge 2.0 Gracey Curette, as unlike anything you have experienced before in a scaler.

Related reading: Hu-Friedy expands EverEdge 2.0 line with Gracey Curette designs

We spoke to Registered Dental Hygienist (RDH) Tami Wanless about her experience with Hu-Friedy’s EverEdge 2.0 Gracey Curettes. Here’s what she had to say.  

Last January, my first-level dental hygiene students from College of DuPage and I went to Hu-Friedy for a tour of the instrument manufacturing process in Chicago. During our visit, I was introduced to EverEdge 2.0 (EE 2.0). I took the new instrument back to my private practice and assumed it would be as sharp as the original EE. I was overwhelmed by how tremendously sharp it was on the first patient I scaled. I was completely impressed-and sad-that I didn’t have to sharpen as frequently due to the continual sharpness of EE 2.0.

What do you like best about Hu-Friedy’s EverEdge 2.0 Gracey Curettes? How do they compare to others on the market?

Being on top of my profession is a high priority for me as an educator. I am more effective with deposit removal using EE2.0 than any other instrument; it’s that sharp.

Clinically, I use fewer strokes and lighter lateral pressure on the lower anterior areas because they are that strong. There is less hand fatigue at the end of the day, and I don’t need to sharpen nearly as often. I have never used any other instrument this sharp. Not only are EE 2.0 a pleasure to work with in private practice, it’s nice to introduce this sharpness option when working with my students.

What have been the results and/or patient responses?  

Multiple patients could hear a difference when the cutting edge removed the deposit. They inquired during their appointment, “Do I have more plaque because it sounds like you’re doing a lot more scraping?” Also, when I blow air on the tooth surface, there is a remarkable transformation in the outcome of fine chalky deposit removal.

Trending article: Hu-Friedy introduces most advanced hand scaling instrumentation

What benefits to your practice have you seen since using the EverEdge 2.0 instruments?

Using EE2.0 has sparked multiple conversations between my patients and I about these new “purple” instruments.  Any time I can demonstrate to my patients that I am using the best available anything, I know I am providing a practice environment they can feel confident in and will talk about outside my operatory.

Patients have also noticed a change in their hygiene visit the moment I started using EE 2.0. Using a sharper scaler benefits my patients by providing more comfort, and I know I am providing a healthier oral environment for them at the same time. Incorporating EE 2.0 into my practice was like integrating loupes -you don’t know what you’re overlooking until you witness the difference.

Why would you recommend them to your colleagues?

Sharing facts about EE 2.0 with fellow hygienists is easy-all they have to do is use EE 2.0 once and the sharpness speaks for itself. I had to take some time off from private practice recently, so I had a friend I teach with fill in for me. She was ecstatic to use EE 2.0 and felt the significant sharpness and value right away.  

Hu-Friedy recently donated EE 2.0 instruments to a mission project I worked with. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of working a dental mission, you know two things: one, you’re going to work harder than any day in private practice; and two, the instruments probably won’t be very sharp or stay sharp. The groups of volunteer hygienists were all smiles when I told them they would be using brand-new Hu-Friedy Ever Edge 2.0 instruments to debride all day! We didn’t have to sharpen after treating nearly 500 difficult patients. By not taking the time to stop and sharpen, we were able to help more patients and not compromise on providing the best care possible.

Saving the world one tooth at a time takes a village. I’m glad I live near Hu-Friedy town. It makes it a lot easier!