Abstract: There is described a hand-held dental instrument for detection of carious lesions which includes a handle portion defining a longitudinal axis therethrough and at least a first working end, mounted on the handle portion, which includes a probe body extending from the handle portion and a probe tip disposed at a remote end. The probe tip is configured for exploring teeth and/or periodontal pockets. The probe body is curved and has a curette portion disposed on the probe body between the handle portion and the probe tip, the curette portion having at least two scraping fins each defining a curved blade for removing at least one of biofilm, plaque and tartar from a curved tooth surface.