Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of dental instruments having their surfaces formed with abrasive coatings which are used for both cutting and polishing functions. In each of the instruments disclosed herein, the abrasive surface consists of a plurality of regions with each region having a distinct degree of coarseness or fineness different from the degree of abrasion of which other regions consist. In some of the instruments, the finer abrasiveness is on the end of the instrument whereas the coarser region is away therefrom, whereas in other instruments the coarser region is at the end. Other embodiments are disclosed which have alternating regions of coarseness and fineness. In some of the instruments, the interfaces between the regions define distinct changes in abrasiveness whereas in other instruments, these interfaces define gradual changes in abrasiveness.