Helmut Zepf · Hygiene Cross-Reference

Hygiene Instrument Comparison Chart

Comparisons are based on the shared, industry-standard instrument pattern system: instruments on the same row follow the same named design (Gracey, Langer, Columbia, McCall, and classic sickle patterns), which defines the working-end geometry and clinical application.

No representation is made as to product interchangeability — each manufacturer has their own materials, processes, and proprietary enhancements.

Read more about how rows are matched +

Brand codes shown are the base pattern designations — each manufacturer offers multiple handle, rigidity, and blade variants under suffixes of these codes. Click any pattern to see the matching German-made Helmut Zepf instruments. Probe rows are matched by measurement graduation, the defining property of a periodontal probe.

Since 1921Made in GermanyRevised on October 14, 2026
PATTERNHELMUT ZEPF

Reach and blade variants: each brand extends these base patterns with deep-pocket variants under its own name — Helmut Zepf's M5 design (first shaft about 3 mm longer with a shortened working end, for pockets deeper than 5 mm; see the Langer M5 literature) corresponds in concept to Hu-Friedy's After Five™ (longer terminal shank) and Mini Five™ (plus shortened blade), American Eagle's XP Access designs, and PDT's Extended Reach (ER) and ER Mini blade types. Titanium-insert versions for implant maintenance and Nanopal®-coated versions are further Zepf-specific variants of the same base patterns. For scaler and curette pattern terminology, see our Dental Hygiene Instrument Glossary.

Cross-Reference by Pattern

Helmut Zepf Pattern Hu-Friedy American Eagle PDT Nordent Premier LM-Dental A. Titan
Gracey Curettes
Gracey 1/2 Gracey 1/2 SG1/2 AEG1-2 R016 SCGR1-2 BEUL-05601 / BE-1005001 / LT-1004810 / PremierAir-1004660 201-202 GR 1-2
Gracey 3/4 Gracey 3/4 SG3/4 AEG3-4 R018 SCGR3-4 BEUL-05603 / LT-1004811 / PremierAir-1004661 203-204 GR 3-4
Gracey 5/6 Gracey 5/6 SG5/6 AEG5-6 R020 SCGR5-6 BEUL-05605 / BE-1005010 / LT-1004812 / PremierAir-1004662 205-206 GR 5-6
Gracey 7/8 Gracey 7/8 SG7/8 AEG7-8 R022 SCGR7-8 BEUL-05607 / BE-1005015 / LT-1004813 / PremierAir-1004663 207-208 GR 7-8
Gracey 9/10 Gracey 9/10 SG9/10 AEG9-10 R024 SCGR9-10 BEUL-05609 / LT-1004814 209-210 GR 9-10
Gracey 11/12 Gracey 11/12 SG11/12 AEG11-12 R026 SCGR11-12 BEUL-05611 / BE-1005020 / LT-1004815 / PremierAir-1004665 211-212 GR 11-12
Gracey 13/14 Gracey 13/14 SG13/14 AEG13-14 R028 SCGR13-14 BEUL-05613 / BE-1005025 / LT-1004816 / PremierAir-1004666 213-214 GR 13-14
Gracey 15/16 Gracey 15/16 SG15/16 AEG15-16 R030 SCGR15-16 BEUL-05653 / BE-1005026 / LT-1004819 245-246 GR 15-16
Gracey 17/18 Gracey 17/18 SG17/18 AEG17-18 R032 SCGR17-18 BEUL-05655 / LT-1004820 247-248 GR 17-18
Langer Universal Curettes
Langer 1/2 Langer 1/2 SL1/2 AECL1-2 R079 SCLN1-2 — 281-282 Langer 1-2
Langer 3/4 Langer 3/4 SL3/4 AECL3-4 R080 SCLN3-4 — 283-284 Langer 3-4
Langer 5/6 Langer 5/6 SL5/6 AECL5-6 R081 SCLN5-6 — 285-286 Langer 5-6
Langer 17/18 Langer 17/18 SL17/18 — R087 SCLN17-18 — — Langer 17-18
Columbia Universal Curettes
Columbia 2R/2L Columbia 2R/2L SC2R/2L AECC2L-2R R066 SCCO2R-2L BE-1005028 / LT-1004800 217-218 COL 2R-2L
Columbia 4R/4L Columbia 4R/4L SC4R/4L AECC4L-4R R067 SCCO4R-4L BEUL-05615 / BE-1005030 / LT-1004801 / PremierAir-1004651 219-220 COL 4R-4L
Columbia 13/14 Columbia 13/14 SC13/14 AECC13-14 R064 SCCO13-14 BEUL-05617 / BE-1005035 / LT-1004802 / PremierAir-1004652 237-238 COL 13-14
McCall Universal Curettes
McCall 13S/14S McCall 13S/14S SM13/14S AECM13-14S R070 SCM13S-14S BEUL-05639 / BE-1005085 / LT-1004821 222-223 MC13S-14S
McCall 17S/18S McCall 17S/18S — AECM17-18S R072 SCM17S-18S BEUL-05641 / BE-1005090 / LT-1004822 279-280 MC17S-18S
Sickle Scalers
204 204 S204 — — SC204 LT-1004840 — 204
204S 204S S204S AES204S R135 SC204S BEUL-05623 / BE-1005045 / LT-1004837 / PremierAir-1004696 303-304 204S
204SD 204SD S204SD AES204SD R136 SC204SD BEUL-05627 / PremierAir-1004697 — —
H6/7 H6/7 SH6/7 AESH6-7 R110 SCN67 BEUL-05621 / BE-1005040 / LT-1004839 / PremierAir-1004689 146-147 H6-H7
H5/33 H5/33 SH5/33 AESH5-33 R111 SCJ1S-N5 BEUL-05629 / BE-1005060 / LT-1004838 / PremierAir-1004688 — H5-J1S
M23 (23) M23 (23) SM23 AESM23 R098 SCN130 (Doeppler #M-23) — 313-314 —
Towner U15/33 Towner U15/33 SU15/33 AESU15-33 R113 SCJ1S-U15 BEUL-05633 / BE-1005070 / LT-1004843 / PremierAir-1004693 — —
Jacquette 34/35 Jacquette 34/35 SJ34/35 AES2YS-3YS R125 SCJ2S-3S BEUL-05645 / BE-1005100 / LT-1004830 / PremierAir-1004686 — JAC 2S-3S
Taylor T2/3 Taylor T2/3 ST2/3 — — SCTA2-3 — — —
Periodontal Files
Hirschfeld 3/7 Hirschfeld 3/7 FH3/7 AEFH3-7 — — — — —
Hirschfeld 5/11 Hirschfeld 5/11 FH5/11 AEFH5-11 — — — — —
Titanium Implant Maintenance Instruments
Langer 1/2 Titanium Langer 1/2 Titanium — — — CEISLN1-2 — — —
Langer 3/4 Titanium Langer 3/4 Titanium — AEIIL3-4X R680 CEISLN3-4 9061462 — —
Langer 5/6 Titanium Langer 5/6 Titanium — — — CEISLN5-6 — — —
204S Titanium 204S Titanium — AEII204SX — CEIS204S — — —
Explorers
Explorer #5 (double-ended) Explorer #5 (double-ended) EXD5 AEEXP5 R166 EX5 CF-1003523 / OCT-1003503 / PremierAir-1003560 — EXPL 5
Explorer #17 (single-ended) Explorer #17 (single-ended) EXS17 — — EX17 CF-1003514 — —
Explorer #23 Shepherd's Hook Explorer #23 Shepherd's Hook EXS23 AEEXP23 R183 EX23 CF-1003515 / OCT-1003495 / PremierAir-1003551 — EXPL 23
Explorer 11/12 (ODU) Explorer 11/12 (ODU) EXD11/12 AEEXP11-12 R167 EX11-12 CF-1003529 / ODU-H-1003549 / PremierAir-1003562 11-12 EXPL 11-12
Explorer #3CH Cowhorn Explorer #3CH Cowhorn EXD3CH AEEXP3CH — EX3CH CF-1003527 / PremierAir-1003563 — —
Explorer #8 (single-ended) Explorer #8 (single-ended) EXS8 — — — — — —
Explorer #9 (single-ended) Explorer #9 (single-ended) EXS9 AEEXP9 — EXS9 — 9 —
Explorer #3A (single-ended) Explorer #3A (single-ended) EXS3A — — EX3A — — —
Endodontic Explorer DG16 Endodontic Explorer DG16 EXDG16 AEEMDG16 R311 REX16 1003844 (Endo 16) — DG 16
Periodontal Probes
UNC 15 / North Carolina (1–15 mm) UNC 15 / North Carolina (1–15 mm) PCPUNC15 AEPUNC15RB R198 PCN15 CC-1003684 / CV-1003640 / PremierAir-1003635 54B UNC 15
Williams Probe (1-2-3-5-7-8-9-10) Williams Probe (1-2-3-5-7-8-9-10) PW / PQW (color-coded) AEP1B R196 PCOW (PW plain) 1003672 (plain) 51 WILL
WHO / CP 11.5 (3.5-5.5-8.5-11.5) WHO / CP 11.5 (3.5-5.5-8.5-11.5) PCP11.5B AEPWHOB R197 PCWHO CC-1003675 / PremierAir CV-1003636 550B WHO
CP 12 (3-6-9-12) CP 12 (3-6-9-12) PCP12 AEP12B R195 PCN33 Marquis 12: PremierAir CV-1003633 53B / 530B CP-12
CP 22 (2-4-6-8-10-12) CP 22 (2-4-6-8-10-12) PCP2 AEP2-12B — PCN22 — — —
Probe #1 (3-6-8-11) Probe #1 (3-6-8-11) PCP11 — R194 PCN8-11 — — CP-11
Nabers Furcation Probe (3-6-9-12) Nabers Furcation Probe (3-6-9-12) PQ2N AEPN2B R205 PCNAB2 (PNAB2 plain) Nabers 2N 1003677 / CC-1003695 20-21 NABERS
Dressing Pliers
College Dressing Pliers (serrated, non-locking) College Dressing Pliers (serrated, non-locking) DP2 — T040 DP1 9065081 — COLLEGE
Mouth Mirrors & Replacement Mirror Heads
Mirror Head #4 Front Surface (Ø 22 mm) Mirror Head #4 Front Surface (Ø 22 mm) MIR4 — T051 M4 (M4S stem) — — 4FCS
Mirror Head #5 Front Surface (Ø 24 mm) Mirror Head #5 Front Surface (Ø 24 mm) MIR5 — T050 M5 (M5S stem) — — 5FCS
Mirror Head #4/#5 Plane Surface Mirror Head #4/#5 Plane Surface — — — — — — —
Double-Sided Mirror Head Double-Sided Mirror Head MIR5DS — T055 M4DS / M5DS — — —
Cone-Socket Mirror Handle Cone-Socket Mirror Handle MH6 AEMHR / AEMHT R245 HM20 / HM16 / HM12 1003582 / BE-1005115 28 MHCS
Note: mirror sizes #4 (Ø 22 mm) and #5 (Ø 24 mm) are universal, but attachment systems differ — standard Helmut Zepf replacement heads use a simple-thread stem, while the Hu-Friedy and PDT heads listed are cone socket, as are American Eagle's #4/#5 heads (AEM4 / AEM5) and the AEMHR/AEMHT handles (AE simple-stem EU-thread handles: AEMHRSS / AEMHTSS), and PDT’s R245 cone-socket handle is also offered in a simple-stem version (R248); Nordent heads come in both systems (M4/M5 and double-sided M4DS/M5DS cone socket, M4S/M5S simple stem); Premier lists mirror handles only, no replacement heads — cone socket 1003582 (Big Easy® 1005115) and simple stem 1003581 (Big Easy® 1005120); LM-Dental likewise lists mirror handles only — Mirror Handle 28 is cone socket (UNF4-48 thread) and Mirror Handle 25 is simple stem (M2.5 thread); A. Titan lists cone-socket components only — front-surface heads 4FCS (#4) / 5FCS (#5) and the MHCS handle, no simple-stem or plane-surface data in its catalog. Match the head to your handle system; Zepf also offers a cone-socket handle.

All Helmut Zepf instruments are manufactured by Helmut Zepf Medizintechnik in Seitingen-Oberflacht, Germany — precision dental instruments since 1921. References are provided for identification and comparison purposes only; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. A dash (—) means no base-pattern code was verified for that brand.

Why Pattern Numbers Matter When Switching Brands

A name such as "Gracey 11/12" or "UNC 15" describes a working-end geometry or a probe graduation, not one manufacturer's part number. The numbering conventions many US clinicians learned in school are shared across American and German makers, so matching your current instruments by pattern rather than by brand keeps technique and tray layout the same after a switch. Before ordering, check the variant as well as the base pattern: shank length, blade type (standard, M5, titanium, coated) and handle differ by manufacturer.

Can I mix Helmut Zepf and Hu-Friedy instruments on one tray? Yes. Instruments that share a pattern name have the same working-end design and intended tooth surfaces, so they sit side by side on a tray without a change in technique. Handle ergonomics and color coding still differ by brand, so check that the colors don't conflict with your tray system.

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