Top tips for effective use of periodontal instruments in primary care

Stabilisation of primary disease is a key pillar of successful treatment and in addition to managing caries, managing periodontal disease is a crucial component of a successful treatment plan. The recent European Federation of Periodontology (EFP) S3 level clinical practice guidelines (CPG)1 are evidence‐based clinical guidelines providing recommendations to treat periodontitis. Crucial to successful implementation of these recommendations is delivering behavioural change and non-surgical instrumentation. Often this is given passing attention with insufficient time allocated to behaviour change in treatment planning. Similarly, poorly maintained periodontal instruments and equipment not used to their full utility or design can lead to poorer outcomes for patients. In this article we provide tips, on how to meet these guidelines with best practice, borne from years of experience in optimising instrument utilisation, including an update on instruments which may facilitate patient care, and operator satisfaction.