Kirkland knife

Kirkland knife

Etymology: Olin Kirkland, American periodontist, 1876-1969; AS, cnif

a surgical knife with a heart-shaped blade that is sharp on all edges. It is used for a primary gingivectomy incision.

---

knife,

n an instrument used for cutting that consists of a sharp-edged blade with a handle.

knife, amalgam,

n a bladed metal instrument used in the margination process to remove excess amalgam and overhangs.

knife, buck,

n a periodontal knife possessing spear-shaped cutting points; used for interdental incision during gingivectomy.

knife, electronic,

n an electrosurgical scalpel used to incise or shave tissue.

knife, gold,

n an instrument sometimes contraangled, with a blade or cutting edge; used to trim excess metal and develop contour in foil restorations.

knife, Goldman-Fox,

n.pr a group of surgical instruments designed for the incision and contouring of gingival tissue.

knife, Kirkland,

n.pr a heart-shaped knife, sharp on all edges, used for the primary gingivectomy incision.

knife, Merrifield's,

n.pr a knife that has a long, narrow, triangular blade in a shank; used for gingivectomy incisions.