**Coronal Polishing Flashcards
Define: coronal polishing
a procedure used to remove supragingival, extrinsic stains and soft deposits on the clinical crown of a tooth
Are the terms prophylaxis and coronal polishing interchangable?
No, EFDAs cannot perform prophylaxis because that involves scaling subgingivally and removing hard deposits
Is a prophylaxis under the scope of practice of an EFDA?
No
List some contraindications for coronal polishing.
-gingival infection
-undergoing SRP treatment
-communicable diseases spread by aerosols
-hypersensitive teeth/thin enamel
-implants can be scratched
-pulp can be overheated by the heat of the handpiece
Define: selective polishing
a procedure in which only those teeth or surfaces with stains are polished, instead of the entire dentition
What is the purpose of performing selective polishing?
to avoid removing any amount of surface enamel unnecessarily
Define: extrinsic stain
staining of the outside surface of the tooth
Define: intrinsic stain
staining internally in the tooth
What is the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic staining?
extrinsic is the outer surface of the tooth and intrinsic is within the tooth
List typical causes of intrinsic staining.
-non-vital teeth
-fluorosis
-tetracycline stains
-disruptions in tooth development
What type of staining in a non-vital tooth most susceptible to?
intrinsic staining
What is a cause of yellow extrinsic staining?
food or poor oral hygiene
What is a cause of black line extrinsic staining?
chromogenic bacteria
Does tobacco use cause intrinsic or extrinsic staining?
extrinsic
What is a cause of metallic staining? (can be either intrinsic or extrinsic staining)
different metals inhaled in industry work or orally in certain medications
What is a cause of chlorohexadine extrinsic staining?
prolonged use of chlorohexadine
Define: acquired pellicle
a thin, clear film of insoluble proteins, fats, and other materials from saliva that form within minutes of removal, and provide a breeding ground for biofilm and calculus
How quickly after removal of the acquired pellicle does it begin to reform?
within minutes of removal
What is the biofilm commonly referred to?
plaque
Define: biofilm
a sticky mass that contains mucus and bacteria that crowns in colonies on teeth
Define: materia alba
a white, cheese-like accumulation of food debris, microorganisms, tissue cell, and blood cells deposited around the teeth at the gumline
Define: disclosing agents
a liquid or tablet that contains a dye or coloring agent to temporarily highlight soft deposits
What can be used as a visual aide to show a patient evidence of their poor home care?
disclosing agents
What type of paste is used to clean the pits and fissures of teeth prior to sealant placement?
flour of pumice (fluoride-free and not flavored)
What type of prophy handpiece attachment is most efficient for the buccal/lingual surfaces and at the gingival margins?
prophy cup
What type of prophy handpiece attachment is most efficient for occlusal surfaces?
prophy brush
If selecting between using a prophy cup or prophy brush, which should not be used near the soft tissue?
prophy brush
What style of instrument grasp should be used when holding a prophy handpiece?
modified pen grasp
How should the patient be positioned when performing coronal polishing on the maxillary arch?
in a reclined position with the patient’s chin tilted upward
How should a patient be positioned when performing coronal polishing on the mandibular arch?
in a recline position with the patient’s mandible parallel to the floor
Which area of the tooth should you start coronal polishing?
gingival third
