A curette is a small surgical instrument with a scoop or loop-shaped tip used to scrape tissue from the body. It shows up across nearly every branch of medicine, from dentistry to dermatology to gynecology to orthopedic surgery. The common thread is always the same: a curette removes unwanted tissue by scraping it away from a surface, whether that surface is a tooth root, the uterine lining, a patch of skin, or bone.
How a Curette Is Designed
Most curettes share a simple structure: a handle, a shaft (called the shank), and a working tip with one or more sharp or rounded edges. The tip does the actual scraping. It can be spoon-shaped, loop-shaped, or blade-like depending on the specialty. Some curettes have sharp cutting edges for removing thick or stubborn tissue, while others have blunt, rounded edges for working near delicate structures or for smoothing a site after the initial scraping is done.
In practice, surgeons and dentists often use both types during the same procedure. A sharp curette removes the bulk of the tissue first, then a blunt curette refines and inspects the area. The size of the instrument varies widely too. Dental curettes can be quite small with blades just a few millimeters long, while orthopedic bone curettes tend to be larger and sturdier.
Curettes in Dentistry
Dentistry is where you’ll encounter curettes most often. A dental curette is a hand instrument used primarily for scaling below the gum line, removing hardened plaque (calculus), and smoothing the surfaces of tooth roots. The rounded back and toe of the instrument let a hygienist or dentist work beneath the gums without cutting or tearing the soft tissue.
There are two main categories. Universal curettes have two cutting edges per blade and can be used on any tooth surface, front or back. The blade sits at a 90-degree angle to the shaft, making them versatile for routine cleanings and initial gum disease treatment. Gracey curettes, by contrast, are designed for specific areas of the mouth. They have only one cutting edge per blade, and the blade is angled at roughly 70 degrees to the shaft. This offset angle makes them especially effective in deep gum pockets and around complex root shapes where a universal curette can’t reach as precisely.
Specialized variations exist for particular situations. Some have longer, thinner shafts (about 3 mm longer than standard) to reach deeper pockets. Others have shorter, narrower blades for tight spaces. And implant curettes are made from plastic, titanium, or resin instead of stainless steel so they won’t scratch the surface of dental implants.
Curettes in Dermatology
Dermatologists use curettes to scrape abnormal skin growths off the body. The procedure, called curettage, is quick and often performed in an office visit under local anesthesia. It’s commonly paired with cautery (heat or a chemical agent that stops bleeding and destroys any remaining abnormal cells at the base of the wound).
Skin conditions frequently treated with curettage include:
- Warts
- Skin tags
- Seborrheic keratoses (rough, waxy growths common with aging)
- Actinic keratoses (precancerous sun-damage spots)
- Basal cell carcinomas (the most common type of skin cancer)
- Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (an early-stage skin cancer confined to the top layer of skin)
Not every skin lesion is a good candidate. Basal cell carcinomas that are large, deep, or have come back after previous treatment are generally not suitable for curettage. The same goes for any lesion with poorly defined edges, since the curette works best when the boundary between normal and abnormal tissue is clear.
Curettes in Gynecology
The most well-known gynecological use of a curette is in dilation and curettage, commonly called a D&C. During this procedure, the cervix is gently widened and a curette is used to remove tissue from the uterine lining. A D&C serves both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
On the diagnostic side, it can collect a tissue sample when a doctor needs to investigate abnormal bleeding or other uterine symptoms. On the treatment side, it’s used to clear tissue that remains in the uterus after a miscarriage or abortion, to remove uterine or cervical polyps, to treat excessive bleeding after childbirth if placental tissue has been retained, or to remove a molar pregnancy (an abnormal growth that forms in place of a normal pregnancy).
Recovery After a D&C
Most people return to normal activities within about five days. Mild cramping and light spotting for a few days afterward are normal. Pads rather than tampons are recommended for any bleeding, and sexual activity is typically off-limits for about a week while the cervix returns to its normal size, since an open cervix raises the risk of infection. A follow-up visit usually happens within two weeks.
Signs that something isn’t healing properly include fever, heavy bleeding, large blood clots, severe cramping, or unusual-smelling vaginal discharge.
Curettes in Orthopedic Surgery
Bone curettes have a sharp cup on the working end that scrapes, shapes, and cleans bone. Orthopedic surgeons use them during procedures like debridement (cleaning out damaged or infected tissue), bone biopsies, and bone grafting. The curette removes debris, blood, and infected tissue from the bone surface, which helps control infection and, importantly, promotes healing. Shaving the outer surface of bone exposes the bone matrix underneath, which contains the cells that kickstart new bone growth and repair.
Sharp vs. Blunt Curettes
Across specialties, the choice between a sharp and blunt curette depends on the task at hand. Sharp curettes are better for removing thick tissue, cleaning out infected or cystic areas, and debriding chronic wounds. Blunt curettes are the safer choice near nerves, blood vessels, or other delicate structures, and they’re preferred for final smoothing and inspection of a surgical site. In most procedures, both get used in sequence: sharp first to do the heavy lifting, blunt second to refine.