ISO 13397-2:2005/Amd 1:2012

Overview

ISO 13397-2:2005/Amd 1:2012 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that focuses on periodontal curettes of Gr-type, an essential category of dental instruments used in dentistry. This amendment introduces a colour coding system designed to enhance the identification and usage of Gr-type periodontal curettes. The standard is part of the broader ISO 13397 series that addresses the specifications for periodontal curettes, dental scalers, and excavators.

This amendment, issued in 2012, aims to improve clinical efficiency and safety by standardizing colour coding to easily distinguish between different curette types based on their intended clinical application areas. ISO 13397-2 supports the dental industry, manufacturers, and practitioners in delivering precise periodontal care.

Key Topics

• Periodontal Curettes of Gr-type: Specialized instruments used for scaling and root planing in periodontal treatments.
• Colour Coding System: A scheme that assigns specific colours to different types of Gr curettes to indicate their optimal use area.
• Types and Corresponding Colours:
  • Gr 5 and Gr 6: Yellow – Intended for anterior and premolar teeth.
  • Gr 7 and Gr 8: Green – For molar and premolar teeth, buccal and lingual/palatal surfaces.
  • Gr 11 and Gr 12: Red/Orange – Used on molar and premolar teeth, mesial surfaces and furcations.
  • Gr 13 and Gr 14: Blue – Designed for molar and premolar distal surfaces and furcations.
• Manufacturer Discretion: Although the colour coding system is recommended, its implementation remains at the manufacturer's discretion, allowing flexibility in production practices.

Applications

• Dental Practices and Clinics: Facilitates easy identification of periodontal curettes during routine scaling and root planing procedures, enhancing workflow and reducing instrument selection errors.
• Dental Instrument Manufacturers: Enables standardization in the production of Gr-type periodontal curettes with clear, recognizable colour codes to improve usability across global markets.
• Dental Education: Assists dental students and professionals in quickly learning instrument functions and clinical indications via visual colour cues.
• Periodontal Therapy: Enhances precise treatment targeting by correlating specific instruments with tooth regions and surfaces, minimizing tissue trauma.

Related Standards

• ISO 13397-1: Dentistry - Periodontal curettes, dental scalers, and excavators - Part 1: General requirements and dimensions.
• ISO 13397-3: Dentistry - Periodontal curettes, dental scalers and excavators - Part 3: Dental scalers.
• ISO 7494: Dentistry - Dental hand instruments for periodontal use - Methods for testing.
• ISO/TS 1942: Dentistry - Vocabulary of materials for dental care and dental technology (relevant for terminology).

Adopting ISO 13397-2:2005/Amd 1:2012 helps dental professionals and manufacturers promote standardization, efficiency, and patient safety through a universally recognized colour coding system for Gr-type periodontal curettes. This standard represents an important step forward in harmonizing dental instrument design and application internationally.