Dental Curettes In The United Kingdom
Written by the Equate Instruments Technical Team · Reviewed by the Medical & Dental Board, Equate Instruments · Published ·
Clinics and distributors in the United Kingdom can buy dental curettes directly from Equate, which lists 237 references. WHO estimates that 10.6% of people aged 15 and over in the United Kingdom had severe periodontal disease in 2019 (WHO).
Key points
- In 2024, 73.2% of Primary 1 children examined in Scotland had no obvious decay experience, compared with 60.1% in the most deprived areas and 83.6% in the least deprived (Public Health Scotland).
Dentists in the United Kingdom at a glance
- Dentists on the GDC register at year end: 46,362 (2024) to 47,916 (2025)
- +3.4% since 2024
- Dentists on the GDC register at year end: 46,362 (2024) to 47,916 (2025)
- General Dental Council, 2025
- At the end of 2025, the General Dental Council register for the UK held 47,916 dentists, up 3.4% on the previous year (GDC).
- 47,916
- At the end of 2025, the General Dental Council register for the UK held 47,916 dentists, up 3.4% on the previous year (GDC).
- General Dental Council, 2025
- At the end of 2025, the UK's GDC register held 83,764 dental care professionals and 131,680 dental professionals in total (GDC).
- 131,680
- At the end of 2025, the UK's GDC register held 83,764 dental care professionals and 131,680 dental professionals in total (GDC).
- General Dental Council, 2025
- In 2025, 53% of dentists joining the UK's GDC register were internationally qualified, the first time they outnumbered UK-qualified joiners (GDC).
- 53
- In 2025, 53% of dentists joining the UK's GDC register were internationally qualified, the first time they outnumbered UK-qualified joiners (GDC).
- General Dental Council, 2025
- dental schools listed
- 16
- dental schools listed
- Equate research
- Untreated caries, age 5+30.6%
- Severe periodontal disease, 15+10.6%
- No natural teeth, 20+12%
The dark line marks the median of Equate's 22 markets. Source: WHO Oral Health Country Profiles 2022 (2019 estimates).
Which types of dental curettes do clinics in the United Kingdom stock?
- Universal curettes
- Gracey curettes
How are dental curettes regulated in the United Kingdom?
Devices placed on the Great Britain market use UKCA marking, while CE-marked devices under the EU MDR may still be placed on the market until 30 June 2030 (MHRA).
What is the the United Kingdom market like for dental curettes?
In 2024, 73.2% of Primary 1 children examined in Scotland had no obvious decay experience, compared with 60.1% in the most deprived areas and 83.6% in the least deprived (Public Health Scotland).
Public Health Wales reports that 32.4% of 5-year-old children in Wales have experienced tooth decay (Public Health Wales).
Popular Equate dental curettes for the United Kingdom
All products
dental curettes
Gracey 11-12 Curette, Hollow Stainless Handle
EI-0245
dental curettes
Gracey 13-14 Curette, Hollow Stainless Handle
EI-0246
dental curettes
Columbia 4L-4R Universal Curette
EI-0252
dental curettes
After Five Gracey Curette 1-2 with Hollow Handle 10 mm
EI-2179
dental curettes
Lucas 88 Bone Curette 3.5 mm Hollow Handle
EI-0065
dental curettes
Universal Curette Fig. 413/414 - Solid Knurled Handle
EI-0092
dental curettes
McCall Fig. 13S-14S Curette - Hollow Handle 10mm
EI-0106
dental curettes
Lucas 84 Surgical Bone Curette 1.5 mm - 6 mm Solid Handle
EI-0196
Where do dental students in the United Kingdom learn to use dental curettes?
Dental curettes are part of clinical training at the United Kingdom's 16 dental schools, including Cardiff University Dental School and Queen's University Belfast School of Dentistry.
What do dentists in the United Kingdom search for when buying dental curettes?
In UK & Ireland, dental curettes draw about 6,550 searches a month (Google Keyword Planner bands, October 2025 to September 2026). The most searched terms are "curette in dentistry", "dental curette", "gracey curette" and "1 2 gracey curette".
Which dental curettes does Equate supply to the United Kingdom?
Local guides: Belfast, Birmingham and Bristol.
How should dental curettes be cleaned and sterilised in the United Kingdom?
In Scotland, SHTM 01-05 Part A (Version 1, April 2024) from Health Facilities Scotland covers the management of dental instrument decontamination in a Local Decontamination Unit in NHSScotland (NHS National Services Scotland).
WHO reports that the United Kingdom's largest government health financing scheme covers 100% of the population, and that urgent and basic restorative dental care are available in public primary care (WHO).
Why do dentists in the United Kingdom need dental curettes?
A dental curette is a hand instrument with a rounded toe and back, used to remove calculus and biofilm from root surfaces below the gumline. See the full guide to dental Curettes.
Why do practices in the United Kingdom buy dental curettes from Equate?
- Direct from the manufacturer: practices in the United Kingdom order 237 dental curettes references without a distributor mark-up in between.
- The same build standard applies to each piece: passivated stainless steel, ultrasonically cleaned, shape-, boil- and performance-tested and individually packed.
Equate data
The Equate dental curettes range for the United Kingdom
Catalogue explorer: 237 references
| Pattern | References | Figures | Handles | Coatings | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Gracey Curettes | 101 | — | hollow, knurled, silicone, solid | plasma, titanium-coated, titanium-nitride | EI-0010EI-0012 |
| Mini Gracey Curettes | 38 | — | hollow, silicone | — | EI-0238EI-0239 |
| After Five Gracey Curettes | 7 | — | hollow | — | EI-2179EI-2183 |
| Rigid Gracey Curettes | 2 | — | — | — | EI-0957EI-0958 |
| Duplex Gracey Curettes | 7 | — | silicone | — | EI-0971EI-0972 |
| Columbia Curettes | 17 | — | solid | titanium-coated | EI-0074EI-0092 |
| McCall Curettes | 15 | — | hollow, silicone, solid | plasma | EI-0106EI-0175 |
| Barnhart Curettes | 6 | — | silicone, solid | — | EI-0137EI-0987 |
| Langer Curettes | 8 | — | solid | — | EI-0979EI-0980 |
| Lucas Curettes | 19 | — | anatomical, ergonomic, hollow, silicone, solid | plasma | EI-0026EI-0027 |
| Duplex Curettes | 9 | — | silicone | — | EI-1057EI-1058 |
| Scaler & Curette Kits | 8 | — | silicone | — | EI-0244EI-1087 |
Starter kit for a new practice in the United Kingdom
- Gracey 5-6:Gracey Curette 5-6 - 175mm Hollow HandleEI-0144
- Gracey 11-12:Gracey Curette 11-12 - 175mm Hollow HandleEI-0147
- Gracey 13-14:Gracey Curette 13-14 - 175mm Hollow HandleEI-0148
- Universal curette:Universal Implant-Maintenance Curette M23 - Titanium-CoatedEI-0074
What buyers search for
About 6,550 searches a month across 107 related terms.
- curette in dentistry500
- dental curette500
- gracey curette500
- 1 2 gracey curette50
- 13 14 curette50
- 13 14 gracey curette50
Your Regional Executive · UK & Ireland
Nader Chaudhry
Regional Executive, London, UK
Frequently asked questions
Can clinics in the United Kingdom buy dental curettes directly from Equate?
Yes. Equate sells directly to clinics, dental groups and distributors in the United Kingdom. The Regional Executive for UK & Ireland handles quotes, samples and volume pricing.
What sterilisation rules apply to dental curettes in the United Kingdom?
In Wales, WHTM 01-05, "Decontamination in primary care dental practices and community dental services" (Revision 1, February 2014), is published by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership – Facilities Services (NWSSP).
References
- World Health Organization (2019)
- Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (2026)
- NHS National Services Scotland (2024)
- Public Health Scotland (2024)
- Public Health Wales (2025)
- Gehrig JS, et al. Fundamentals of Periodontal Instrumentation & Advanced Root Instrumentation. Wolters Kluwer
- Newman MG, Takei HH, Klokkevold PR, Carranza FA. Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology. Elsevier (periodontal instruments)
- Kohn WG, et al. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003. MMWR 52(RR-17), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
I am a… in the United Kingdom
