A new implant box can carry a dozen lines of print. Most of it is not what your inventory sheet needs. For stock control, five fields do the real work.

This guide walks through those five fields on a typical label. Layouts differ by manufacturer, so always confirm against the instructions for use (IFU) that came with the product.

Why US labels look the way they do

In the US, device labelers are generally required to put a Unique Device Identifier (UDI) on labels and packages, with some exceptions set out in the rule. According to the FDA, a UDI has two parts. The device identifier (DI) is fixed and identifies the labeler and the specific version or model. The production identifier (PI) is variable and, when it appears on the label, can include the lot or batch number, the serial number, the expiration date and the manufacture date. Source: [FDA, UDI Basics](https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/unique-device-identification-system-udi-system/udi-basics) (accessed 2026-11-05).

So the barcode on the box often holds the same LOT and expiration date you see printed next to it. That is useful when you want to double check a handwritten entry.

1. REF: the catalogue number

The value next to "REF" is the manufacturer's catalogue number. Inside one brand, it is the most reliable way to tell one size from another. Put it on every order and the wrong box shows up far less often.

2. Diameter and length

Diameter usually follows the Ø symbol. Length is usually marked with L or written as a second number. Both are in millimeters. Some labels print them together, for example "4.0 x 10" (an example, not a specific product). On many labels the first number is diameter and the second is length, but the order is not universal. Check the IFU once for each new system.

3. LOT: the batch number

The value next to "LOT" identifies the production batch. Two boxes of the same size can have different LOT numbers. If a recall is announced, the LOT is how you find out whether your boxes are affected. The FDA keeps a searchable [Medical Device Recalls database](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfRES/res.cfm) (accessed 2026-11-05).

4. Expiration date

The expiration date usually sits next to an hourglass symbol. Many labels use year, month, day order, and some show only year and month. A factory-shaped symbol marks the manufacture date instead, and it is easy to mix the two up. Read the symbol first, then the date.

5. Sterility and storage marks

You will also see symbols for the sterilization method, single use and storage conditions. You do not need to copy these into every stock record. For a product you have never stocked before, read them once.

Common mix-ups

  • Recording the manufacture date as the expiration date
  • Writing the serial number (SN) in the LOT field
  • Swapping diameter and length
  • Treating two systems from the same brand as one product

Label checklist

  • ☐ REF written down
  • ☐ Diameter and length order confirmed against the IFU
  • ☐ LOT recorded for every box
  • ☐ Hourglass date recorded as the expiration date
  • ☐ System name recorded, not just the brand

Wrapping up

Labels look busy at first. Once your team looks for these five fields every time, receiving gets quick. It is a good page to go through on a new team member's first day.

If copying labels by hand takes too long, Cabinet is an Android app that reads the label for you. Scan the label when a box arrives, and brand, size, LOT, expiry and list price are filled in. You review the values before saving, and if one is wrong, you fix just that field. Cabinet is listed at $6.99 per month per practice, with the first month free. Details are at cabinet.dental.

The Cabinet team

Each trademark belongs to its respective owner.