There are five major classifications: sickle, curette, file, hoe, and chisel.

A dental scaler is a handheld tool equipped with a hook or curved blade, used to scrape away plaque and tartar from the teeth.  Among these, the most commonly used are the sickle and curette scalers. Sickle scalers are effective for supragingival calculus removal, while curettes are better suited for subgingival application. Dentists and dental hygienists undergo rigorous training for scale correction before utilizing this specialized device. The equipment is regularly updated and subjected to safety checks to ensure optimal performance.