Performs Coronal Polishing
Selective and safe
Coronal polishing removes plaque and stain from exposed tooth surfaces using a rubber cup or brush with prophylaxis paste. It is not a substitute for scaling, and it is not appropriate for every patient. Know the indications, contraindications, and technique.
Concepts to master
- Indications: removal of extrinsic stain and plaque before fluoride application or sealant placement, and polishing for esthetics.
- Contraindications and cautions: patients with restricted sodium intake (some pastes are saline-based), respiratory or swallowing difficulty, communicable disease considerations, and newly erupted teeth with immature enamel.
- Technique: select the appropriate cup or brush, load paste, use moderate speed with light intermittent pressure, keep the cup flared, and move systematically across surfaces. Avoid overheating and avoid prolonged contact on exposed cementum or dentin.
- Suction and retraction to manage paste and debris.
- Sequence: polish before fluoride application, because fluoride needs a clean surface.
Traps
A frequent trap is whether polishing removes calculus. It does not; calculus requires instrumentation. Another is the order of fluoride and polishing: polish first, then apply fluoride. Also watch for questions about interproximal surfaces: a rubber cup cannot reach them, so floss or other aids are needed.
Rule of thumb
Polish what is exposed and stained; scale what is hard and attached. If an answer implies a rubber cup removes calculus or reaches between teeth, it is wrong.