Hello from Mumbles, Wales!

Last week, I promised to share a reflection from the Global Instrumentation Workshop I led in Vienna at the EuroPerio Conference with LM Dental—and what an experience it was.

The room was filled with incredible dental professionals from around the world, including educators from universities across Europe and the UK.

Our session focused on the life cycle of our most essential tools: assessment, maintenance, sharpening, replacement, and retirement of instruments in practice. But what struck me—what truly stayed with me—was the realization that not everyone is starting from the same point.

One educator shared that their students are using instruments that are up to 16 years old. Sixteen. Another educator echoed the same at his school. That moment shifted the energy in the room. I had entered the session optimistic, imagining we were all building from the same solid foundation, looking at how we could help dental practices elevate their instrumentation.

But the reality is, many dental hygienists are trained with sub-standard instruments and don’t even know what it could feel like—what it should feel like—when debriding with high-quality tools.

And it made me think: How can we expect to provide optimal care—or call ourselves professionals—if we aren’t equipped with proper, functional instruments?

We can invest in advanced training, magnification, and technology—but without high-quality, well-maintained instruments, we’re building our clinical expertise on a crumbling foundation.

We also had a powerful conversation about the difference between honing and sharpening. If you maintain your instruments regularly, you’re honing. Sharpening, on the other hand, happens when you’ve allowed your tools to become dull—which means clients were treated with sub-par instruments.

This workshop has ignited a new initiative I’ll be working on: Instrument Check-In Day—a global movement encouraging both dental practices and educational institutions to assess their kits at least once a year. If students are trained with sub-standard instruments, they may never experience what excellence feels like—until it’s too late. By starting with schools and extending into practice, we can raise the bar across the profession and ensure every clinician is set up for success.

It’s time we all commit to raising the bar.

Our clients deserve it. We deserve it.

Let’s strive for mastery—and let our tools reflect the level of care we aspire to provide.

Warmly,

Kathleen

Kathleen Bokrossy, RDH, BSc ~ Founder | President

Follow me and I'll follow you on Instagram  @kathbok

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