**Coronal Polishing

Question 1

Define: coronal polishing

Answer 1

a procedure used to remove supragingival, extrinsic stains and soft deposits on the clinical crown of a tooth

Question 2

Are the terms prophylaxis and coronal polishing interchangable?

Answer 2

No, EFDAs cannot perform prophylaxis because that involves scaling subgingivally and removing hard deposits

Question 3

Is a prophylaxis under the scope of practice of an EFDA?

Answer 3

No

Question 4

List some contraindications for coronal polishing.

Answer 4

-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

Question 5

Define: selective polishing

Answer 5

a procedure in which only those teeth or surfaces with stains are polished, instead of the entire dentition

Question 6

What is the purpose of performing selective polishing?

Answer 6

to avoid removing any amount of surface enamel unnecessarily

Question 7

Define: extrinsic stain

Answer 7

staining of the outside surface of the tooth

Question 8

Define: intrinsic stain

Answer 8

staining internally in the tooth

Question 9

What is the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic staining?

Answer 9

extrinsic is the outer surface of the tooth and intrinsic is within the tooth

Question 10

List typical causes of intrinsic staining.

Answer 10

-non-vital teeth
-fluorosis
-tetracycline stains
-disruptions in tooth development

Question 11

What type of staining in a non-vital tooth most susceptible to?

Answer 11

intrinsic staining

Question 12

What is a cause of yellow extrinsic staining?

Answer 12

food or poor oral hygiene

Question 13

What is a cause of black line extrinsic staining?

Answer 13

chromogenic bacteria

Question 14

Does tobacco use cause intrinsic or extrinsic staining?

Answer 14

extrinsic

Question 15

What is a cause of metallic staining? (can be either intrinsic or extrinsic staining)

Answer 15

different metals inhaled in industry work or orally in certain medications

Question 16

What is a cause of chlorohexadine extrinsic staining?

Answer 16

prolonged use of chlorohexadine

Question 17

Define: acquired pellicle

Answer 17

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

Question 18

How quickly after removal of the acquired pellicle does it begin to reform?

Answer 18

within minutes of removal

Question 19

What is the biofilm commonly referred to?

Answer 19

plaque

Question 20

Define: biofilm

Answer 20

a sticky mass that contains mucus and bacteria that crowns in colonies on teeth

Question 21

Define: materia alba

Answer 21

a white, cheese-like accumulation of food debris, microorganisms, tissue cell, and blood cells deposited around the teeth at the gumline

Question 22

Define: disclosing agents

Answer 22

a liquid or tablet that contains a dye or coloring agent to temporarily highlight soft deposits

Question 23

What can be used as a visual aide to show a patient evidence of their poor home care?

Answer 23

disclosing agents

Question 24

What type of paste is used to clean the pits and fissures of teeth prior to sealant placement?

Answer 24

flour of pumice (fluoride-free and not flavored)

Question 25

What type of prophy handpiece attachment is most efficient for the buccal/lingual surfaces and at the gingival margins?

Answer 25

prophy cup

Question 26

What type of prophy handpiece attachment is most efficient for occlusal surfaces?

Answer 26

prophy brush

Question 27

If selecting between using a prophy cup or prophy brush, which should not be used near the soft tissue?

Answer 27

prophy brush

Question 28

What style of instrument grasp should be used when holding a prophy handpiece?

Answer 28

modified pen grasp

Question 29

How should the patient be positioned when performing coronal polishing on the maxillary arch?

Answer 29

in a reclined position with the patient’s chin tilted upward

Question 30

How should a patient be positioned when performing coronal polishing on the mandibular arch?

Answer 30

in a recline position with the patient’s mandible parallel to the floor

Question 31

Which area of the tooth should you start coronal polishing?

Answer 31

gingival third