title: Color coding periodontal instruments.
abstract: 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 instrument-identification 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.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Dental School, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. hkzohn@optonline.net
authors.forename: Harry K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Zohn
mesh_terms: D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D003116:Color; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education; D012534:Dental Scaling / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006804:Ergonomics; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D006801:Humans; D010517:Periodontics / Q000193:education; D016745:Root Planing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013335:Students, Dental; D013499:Surface Properties; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013664:Teaching Materials; D017748:Time Management