GG Drill
Pronunciation: gates GLID-en
Also written as: GG — Gates-Glidden
A Gates-Glidden drill; a flame-shaped rotary bur used in endodontics to enlarge the coronal and middle thirds of a root canal.
Full Definition
The Gates-Glidden (GG) drill is a latch-type rotary instrument with a flame-shaped cutting head and a long, thin, non-cutting shaft designed to minimise the risk of root perforation. Numbered sizes 1 through 6 correspond to increasing diameters. GG drills are predominantly used in the coronal flaring step of canal preparation and in post-space preparation. Because the cutting surface is limited to the head, the instrument is considered safer than a reamer in straight canal segments. Editors should verify that size numbers are expressed as Arabic numerals (e.g., GG #3) in line with manufacturer and ISO convention, and that 'Gates-Glidden' is hyphenated.
Usage
Usage note: Always hyphenate 'Gates-Glidden'; the eponym is derived from W.H. Gates and Stanton Glidden. Ensure consistent use of '#' notation for size designation.
In Context
- "Coronal flaring was achieved using GG drills sizes 2 through 4 in a crown-down sequence." — Materials and Methods section
- "The GG drill should not be confused with a Peeso reamer; the latter has a more aggressive cutting design." — Editor's note on terminology