In our 2nd-year instrumentation lab at 8 a.m., I asked students which Gracey is indicated for mesial surfaces of posterior teeth and which pair is designed for anterior sextants. Curious how you reinforce this in training or if you teach any memory aids before competency check-offs.
At the 8 a.m. lab we drill: 11/12 hugs mesials of posteriors; 13/14 owns distals; 1/2 (or 3/4) sweeps the anterior, then a 60-second mirror-only pass to cement it. > reinforce this in training or if you teach any memory aids — I add ‘15/16 for tight mesials when 11/12 feels crowded,’ which cuts fumbling before check-offs.
Same idea as @mike_smith84 — we call it a flush cut & hold plier; I do a quick floss tug-test on the catch before clipping so a tired spring doesn’t launch “wire confetti.” On 0.018×0.025 SS, the full-size head stays happier than the mini versions. What brand are you using?
8 a.m. trick: color-dot handles — ‘green goes mesial’ (11/12), red distal (13/14), blue 1/2 anterior. Sharpie if tape peels.