A hand-held dental instrument designed for removing calculus and other accretions from the surface and between the teeth during dental cleaning and periodontal (gum) therapy. It is typically designed as a one-piece instrument with a pointed distal end of various shapes and sizes. Also known as a periodontic scaler, it can be a single-ended or double-ended instrument with a handle at the proximal end or positioned centrally. It is usually made of high-grade stainless steel. This is a single-use device.