Color coding periodontal instruments

Scaling and root planing are probably the most important procedures in periodontal therapy, yet periodontal instrument identification requires visual refocusing from a patient to the tip of an instrument, an inefficient activity in terms of time and ergonomics. For instructors teaching periodontal instrumentation, identifying whether a student is using a correct instrument requires that the instrument be removed from a patient's mouth for inspection. This technique report shows how color coding instruments can simplify the instrumentidentification process. Typically, dental professionals in private practice use a series of color-coded bands or collars on instrument handles to keep track of instrument inventory within dental cassettes. In most cases, the instruments within a particular set are assigned one color so that one can easily identify which instrument goes with which set and determine if all instruments within a particular set are present. The author proposes using a series of colors with a specific color identifying a specific instrument. As long as auxiliaries know which colors must be present in a cassette, the practitioner or dental faculty member can easily identify what instrument is required. Keywords: color coding, dental education, identification, instrument inventory, periodontal instruments