THE SUPPLY ROOM GUIDE · BY RESTOCKLET

A practical supply expiry check for a small dental practice.

This is an inventory-recording routine for ordinary supplies, not clinical guidance or a substitute for manufacturer instructions and your practice’s procedures.

Start with a defined shelf

Choose one storage area and one person responsible for reconciling it. Write down the supply name, counting unit, physical quantity, lot number, expiry date, and location. Keep different lot dates on separate lines.

Match the unit to the way your team counts

If you count gloves by the box, label the shelf and record the item in boxes. Avoid mixing boxes and individual gloves in one count. Record fractional quantities only if your team can use that convention consistently.

Check the package, not your memory

Read the expiry on the manufacturer’s label. A missing date in your spreadsheet does not mean the supply has no expiry. Mark unknown dates for verification. Follow your practice’s procedure for expired or questionable supplies; recording a count correction is not a decision about clinical suitability.

Separate checking from ordering

First reconcile what is physically present. Then compare usable recorded quantities with the threshold your practice selected. Check orders already placed before ordering again. A reorder suggestion cannot know about a shipment unless your process records it.

Make the next check easy

Leave a dated record of changes, the person responsible, and the next review. A shared spreadsheet may be enough. If separate lots and recurring reminders are becoming awkward, try Restocklet’s fictional sample practice to see how the same routine works in an app.

For broader practice inventory guidance, see the American Dental Association’s inventory-control resource. The ADA has no affiliation with or endorsement of Restocklet.