What are periodontal knives?

Periodontal knives make the incisions of resective periodontal surgery. Two blade geometries do most of the work: interdental knives with a narrow, spear-shaped blade that fits between teeth to release the papilla, and broader gingivectomy knives with a curved kidney-shaped blade for the external bevel incision along the gingival margin.

How the periodontal knives range is organised

Interdental:

Orban #1/2, spear knife #8GF and #11GF.

Gingivectomy:

#CK3 and #CK6.

Combination:

Knife #7GF, knife/scaler #9GF.

Choosing the right periodontal knive

Orban knives release the interdental papilla; Kirkland-pattern knives carry the incision along the buccal and lingual margin. Most gingivectomy technique uses both in sequence. These instruments must be genuinely sharp — a dull periodontal knife tears rather than incises, and the resulting margin heals slower and less predictably.