A dental assistant is preparing to chart a new patient's treatment plan. Treatment provided in a previous dental office should be charted in what color?

In dental charting, the convention for indicating treatment that has been completed at a previous dental office is to use black ink. This standardization helps distinguish past treatments from ongoing or proposed treatment plans. Black is traditionally used because it is permanent and easily legible, ensuring clarity in the patient's dental record.

Using different colors for charting helps dental professionals quickly identify the status of treatments. For instance, treatments that are currently being planned or are pending may often be marked in colors like blue or red, while proposed treatments might also use blue or red to signify they are not yet completed. This color-coding ensures that anyone reviewing the chart can easily understand the patient's dental history and treatment needs at a glance.