As a continuing education provider, the Charlotte AHEC office is responsible for ensuring the content, quality and scientific integrity of all continuing dental education activities for which credit is provided. The Charlotte AHEC office is also responsible for taking steps to protect against and/or disclose any conflict of interest of the faculty/instructors presenting those courses. The prophylaxis paste will be applied to the surface of the teeth that need polishing. Some dentists prefer these pastes because they remove stains easily and efficiently. But, it is important to understand the coarse pastes can cause tooth structure loss due to excessive abrasive strength. The fine and medium pastes help to make the teeth surface smooth, shiny, and clean.
Nowadays, air powder polishing devices have overcome conventional rubber cup polishing paste systems for supragingival plaque removal as it reaches surfaces that are inaccessible to a rotary device.[1920] These polishers use slurry of water and sodium bicarbonate under air and water pressure. Abrasives like aluminum trihydroxide, calcium sodium phosphosilicate, calcium carbonate and glycine are also used in air polishers. Small particles elicit the least amount of abrasiveness, while large particles can negatively affect enamel, dentin, cementum, and composites. Although abrasion may not be easily seen, in most situations, the more conservative approach is preferred because coarse grits are more likely to scratch tooth surfaces, thereby enabling stain to easily reaccumulate. Fine grit pastes produce the least amount of surface roughness and also help to maintain the tooth’s natural luster.14 The newest polishing pastes containing perlite incorporate a self-adjusting technology—medium grit transforms to a fine grit during clinical use.
Earlier, tooth polishing was routinely done as a part of dental prophylaxis. However, soon it was realized that the overuse of this technique erodes outermost covering of the tooth structure. The loss of the outer structure makes teeth more vulnerable to stains and plaque accumulation. Also, repetitive use of this procedure removes the protective fluoride layer surrounding the teeth.
Today’s coronal polishing agents are used for a much wider range of treatment modalities, including biofilm disruption before ultrasonic scaling, application of desensitizing pastes, and preparing teeth for sealants to list a few. If tooth stains reach inside the enamel, otherwise known as intrinsic stains, polishing is not recommended since it won’t be effective for this type of staining. Plus, polishing tooth enamel removes a bit of the tooth’s fluoride-rich layer, which then takes about three months to rebuild, according to the JISP article. This is why, if extra polishing is necessary, it should be done with the least abrasive paste, using the proper technique, pressure and speed.
And see the word “Coronal” in “Coronal polishing.” That means you are supposed to only polish the crown part of the tooth, not the roots. Unfortunately, each of these factors contributes directly to the tooth enamel and dentin damage via abrasion. We’re a part of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, provider of comprehensive health,  dental, &  cancer care,  advanced academics,  and  life-saving research. The University of Southern Indiana is an approved provider for continuing education by the Indiana Health Professions Bureau. Successful completion of this program does not guarantee expertise in the content.
Day two includes a written exam, a clinical exam of coronal polishing, and clinical procedure. Oral Care Center articles are reviewed by an oral health medical professional. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Briefly, selective polishing means that you must carefully choose the cases and teeth for coronal polishing. With selective polishing, to continue with the example of the decalcified tooth, you can work on the other teeth and skip the ones with decalcification, or you can polish the teeth that have only visible extrinsic stain. As much as patients may love to have their teeth polished, beware that there are rules to follow (if you’re wanting to be an amazing dental assistant). As the founder of SmarterDA dental assisting exam prep solution, I would like to offer a summary on coronal polishing. Use these key points as a checklist to assess whether you’re making the right choices when performing coronal polishing.
We purchase additional contact data to supplement and correct the contact and employment data we collect, including your name, professional or personal email address, professional or personal telephone phone number, employer name and location, job title or area of expertise. Dimensions of Dental Hygiene is a monthly, peer-reviewed journal that reconnects practicing dental hygienists with the nation’s leading educators and researchers. Providing dental treatment to diabetic patients is more complex due to the many number of parallel and co-existing problems inherent with diabetes.
Program staff are available during business hours by phone or email to assist participants with technical issues or concerns. At ExamEdge.com, we focus on making our clients’ career dreams come true by offering world-class practice tests designed to cover the same topics and content areas tested on the actual Dental Assisting National Board DANB’s Coronal Polish (CP) Certification Exam. Our comprehensive DANB’s Coronal Polish practice tests are designed to mimic the actual exam. You will gain an understanding of the types of questions and information you will encounter when you take your Dental Assisting National Board DANB’s Coronal Polish Certification Exam.

They can also make the teeth surface less exposed to buildup and stain accumulation. The process of using these types of pastes is time-consuming and burdensome. The Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) is responsible for administering the Coronal Polish (CP) certification exam. This exam is designed to assess the knowledge and skills of dental assistants in performing coronal polishing procedures, an essential part of dental care and hygiene services. The quantity and method of prophy paste application influence the rate at which a surface is polished.

Engine-driven polishers

Experience a whole new way to polish; your body and your patients will thank you. Incorporating individual patient needs and expectations into our treatment choices is an integral part of practicing evidence-based dentistry. Choosing the right equipment, applying the proper technique, utilizing the appropriate products and ensuring patient comfort can lead to better clinical outcomes and higher patient satisfaction. There are different types of dental polishing tips that the dentist can recommend for you. We work with institutional partners to offer a wide array of practice tests that will help you prepare for your big exam.
As a registered dental assistant with this certification, you are allowed to monitor nitrous oxide, but not administer. Throughout this course you will learn the indications for nitrous oxide use, advantages and disadvantages, proper monitoring technique, and the health hazards and abuse potential of nitrous oxide. Tooth polishing is a dental procedure, which is used for the prevention of teeth problems. The Nupro Freedom® Cordless Prophy System with SmartMode® Technology provides a cost-effective solution to comply with the CDC Infection Prevention Guidelines.
The terms and conditions within such Customer Contract shall control to the extent of any direct conflict with these Terms of Use. Users who have a visual disability may be able to use a screen reader or other text-to-speech tool to review the contents of this Policy. If you experience any difficulties assessing the information here or you wish to obtain a copy of this Policy, please contact us using the details above. Trauma to soft tissues may result from improper technique or prior inflammation of tissues.[5] Particles within the prophylactic paste can go below the gumline and cause inflammation or delayed healing. Our speakers have no proprietary, financial, or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service and or company that will be discussed on considered during this presentation. If they do, this has been noted in the promotional material and will be made available to participants at the start of the program.
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(d) A course and examination described by Subsection (b) may be offered through self-study, interactive computer courses, or lecture courses and may be offered through the Internet. The course and examination must comply with rules adopted under Subsection (f) and be approved by the board. (3) schedule a follow-up appointment with the patient within a reasonable time.
She works in numerous private practices, comprehensively caring for a diverse patient population in all areas of general dentistry. Endogenous stains are internal stains which are caused due to certain dental defects such as developmental or drug-induced enamel hypoplasia. Exogenous stains are external stains, which arise due to poor dental habits and smoking. Complying with the CDC guidelines regarding dental handpieces is a significant aspect of infection prevention in the office, and this system allows you to do that at a fraction of the cost of buying separate handpieces.

This Policy does not describe the processing of your personal data by our Customers, and we encourage you to visit the Customer’s privacy policy for information about their privacy practices. For example, if you applied to a job at a local state agency, you should contact that agency with any questions you may have relating to the personal data processing by that state agency within our Services. Next time we reaching for the coarse paste, knowing that it will take anything off (including tooth structure,) we can use the time that saved us to read the manufacturer’s instructions that come with our prophy paste.
Sharon L. Mossman, RDH, EDD, is the assistant dean of student affairs at Delaware Technical Community College and an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Dental Hygiene at Idaho State University in Pocatello. She has more than 30 years of experience in clinical practice, education, and research. Passionate about community service, Mossman has served in dental missions for Operation Smile and Remote Area Medical. She has published articles on networking and marketing ideas for successful employment, and has received several grants to promote innovative educational technologies. Dental hygienists are responsible for providing evidence-based treatment, remaining current with innovative equipment selection, and providing input on the purchasing decisions for their dental practices. Dental hygienists can offer optimal care by tailoring polishing options to more precisely meet individual patient needs.

Coronal Polishing for Dental Assistants (

After completing the course and meeting state requirements, they can perform the polishing procedure with the supervision of a dentist. Tooth polishing is a procedure carried out as a part of oral prophylaxis in most dental practices. It is an act of smoothening the tooth surfaces to make it glossy and lustrous. Although the term polishing has been used to describe the professional removal of soft deposits and stains from the tooth surfaces, in reality, this includes both cleaning and polishing.[1] During polishing, plaque, biofilm, stains and acquired pellicle are removed.
Teeth polishing is primarily done for cosmetic reasons, applying the “finishing touches” to enhance appearance. That said, it can also be used to help with exposed roots due to dental surgery. While it was once a part of every cleaning, current guidelines stress that it be applied more selectively because it can affect the outer layers of tooth enamel.
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The most commonly used abrasives in polishing pastes are flour of pumice and calcium carbonate. Other abrasive particles used in commercial prophylaxis polishing pastes include aluminum oxide (alumina), silicon carbide, aluminum silicate, silicon dioxide, carbide compounds, garnet, feldspar, zirconium silicate, zirconium oxide, boron, and calcium carbonate. It is important to understand the patients’ expectations when considering tooth polishing.

✔ Create a smooth tooth surface that is less likely to retain plaque, calculus, and stain. The learning outcome of this program is to enable the learner to incorporate best practices related to coronal polishing of the teeth. The laboratory session will include two (2) hours of practice on a mannequin.
Completion of five (5) additional live patient experiences in a dental office is required before certification is complete. She founded StudentRDH and SmarterDA, which offer dental hygiene and dental assisting exam prep courses. The online platform delivers content of the highest quality through the latest e-learning technology. Claire was invited on various podcasts to speak about memory techniques and learning efficacy, topics she also promotes through articles, speeches, e-books, and blogs. Claire has a master’s in administration from Boston University and her dental hygiene degree from Forsyth School of Dental Hygiene in Boston. We implement physical, technical, and administrative safeguards designed to maintain data accuracy, integrity, and security, prevent unauthorized access, and facilitate correct use of personal data.

Participants will receive hands-on instruction in hand dexterity and use of a slow speed hand piece, prophy angle, and occlusal polishing brush. (i) A certificate of registration issued under this section must be renewed annually. Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the board may not require a person who has successfully completed the course and examination required under Subsection (b) to complete an additional course or examination to renew the registration.