This document summarizes the general principles of instrumentation for scaling and root planing. It discusses proper patient and operator positioning, instrument grasp, finger rests, instrument activation including adaptation, angulation, lateral pressure and strokes. It also covers visual examination, tactile detection and determining the cutting edge of Gracey curettes. The scaling stroke is described as a short, powerful pull stroke while the root planing stroke is a light, overlapping shaving stroke. Proper transition between the two strokes is emphasized to avoid over-instrumentation.