Coronal Polishing Exam Questions with Verified Answers Latest Update 2024 (Already Passed)
Oral Prophylaxis: - Answers Complete removal of hard and soft deposits on teeth (calculus, plaque,
debris, stains) which includes the use of scaling and coronal polishing
Coronal Polishing: - Answers the technique used to remove plaque and stains from the coronal surfaces
(clinical crown) of teeth?
The following are benefits of the Coronal Polishing procedure - Answers A smooth, lustrous finish to the
teeth, cosmetic removal of stain, motivation for improved oral hygiene, & plaque/biofilm removal
*Replenishing fluoride into the enamel is NOT a benefit
Selective Polishing: - Answers Procedure in which only those teeth or surfaces with stains are polished
Selective polishing is best practiced with the following situation: - Answers Each time you assess the
patient's teeth for polishing.
The following areas/conditions of a tooth are appropriate to polish: - Answers a healthy tooth that has
erupted over 6 months ago, a tooth with light stain and moderate plaque, a non-restored tooth that has
just undergone calculus removal
*teeth with enamel hypoplasia or white spot areas are NOT appropriate
Polishing: - Answers No intentional removal of surface material; establish smooth surface
Most common technique in stain removal - Answers Rubber cup polishing
Finishing: - Answers Final removal of excess material; establish proper contour
Abrasion/Abrasives: - Answers Wearing of a surface that cuts and grinds that surface, leaving grooves
and a rough surface
Abrasive agents are used to: - Answers Contour, finish, and polish the surfaces of restorations
Abrasive particles are classified from: - Answers Coarse to fine
A grade of abrasive that will abrade more efficiently? - Answers Coarse
Lubrication: - Answers Used to minimize heat building up at the surface of cutting
The following are considered soft dental deposits that can be removed by coronal polishing: - Answers
biofilm, materia alba, and pellicle
*supragingival calculus CANNOT be removed in this manner
Within what time period will plaque reform after brushing? - Answers Within 12-24 hrs
What forms within minutes of removal? - Answers Pellicle
, What is the polishing agent used on the tooth surface? - Answers Pumice or prophy paste
When a prophy paste is selected, the least abrasive paste possible should be selected for existing: -
Answers Stains and soft deposits
The finished and polished restoration should have: - Answers A smooth, continuous line, flush with the
tooth surface
Before finishing or polishing an amalgam or composite restoration, the clinician should check the
integrity of the cavosurface margins for extra material known as - Answers Flash
The following restoration surface has the fewest concerns with regards to the abrasiveness of the
polishing agent: - Answers amalgam
The following best describes the rubber-cup polishing stroke: - Answers Short, intermittent strokes
moving from the gingival margin toward the incisal/occlusal suface
In which direction should the polishing stroke move? - Answers Begin with the distal surface of the most
posterior tooth in the quadrant and work forward the anterior
The handpiece/prophy cup should be rotating at the following speed: - Answers At a slow speed
The handpiece and prophylaxis angle should be held in this position: - Answers Pen-grasp position
What kind of fulcrum is preferred? - Answers Intraoral fulcrum
For the mandibular arch, the patient's head chin should be positioned - Answers Down
For the maxillary arch, the patient's head chin should be positioned - Answers Up
How can you tell that you are applying enough pressure with the rubber cup while polishing? - Answers
The cup flares out slightly onto the tooth surface
Of the following, which is the most appropriate sequence for the procedure when polishing a patient
with moderate amounts of stain? - Answers Coarse polish, fine polish, floss teeth, fluoride treatment
The best way to assess if your polishing was performed to satisfaction is to: - Answers Use a disclosing
agent after the procedure
In Arizona, a Coronal Polish Certified assistant may use a scaler to remove calculus from a supragingival
dental surface. - Answers False, that is not one of a dental assistant's functions
In general, the most appropriate billable dental procedure to follow coronal polishing is: - Answers
Topical fluoride application
What is the benefit of polishing an amalgam surface? - Answers It creates a lustrous surface, it removes
tarnish, it decreases plaque-reaccumulation, it decreases the opportunity for corrosion
Oral Prophylaxis: - Answers Complete removal of hard and soft deposits on teeth (calculus, plaque,
debris, stains) which includes the use of scaling and coronal polishing
Coronal Polishing: - Answers the technique used to remove plaque and stains from the coronal surfaces
(clinical crown) of teeth?
The following are benefits of the Coronal Polishing procedure - Answers A smooth, lustrous finish to the
teeth, cosmetic removal of stain, motivation for improved oral hygiene, & plaque/biofilm removal
*Replenishing fluoride into the enamel is NOT a benefit
Selective Polishing: - Answers Procedure in which only those teeth or surfaces with stains are polished
Selective polishing is best practiced with the following situation: - Answers Each time you assess the
patient's teeth for polishing.
The following areas/conditions of a tooth are appropriate to polish: - Answers a healthy tooth that has
erupted over 6 months ago, a tooth with light stain and moderate plaque, a non-restored tooth that has
just undergone calculus removal
*teeth with enamel hypoplasia or white spot areas are NOT appropriate
Polishing: - Answers No intentional removal of surface material; establish smooth surface
Most common technique in stain removal - Answers Rubber cup polishing
Finishing: - Answers Final removal of excess material; establish proper contour
Abrasion/Abrasives: - Answers Wearing of a surface that cuts and grinds that surface, leaving grooves
and a rough surface
Abrasive agents are used to: - Answers Contour, finish, and polish the surfaces of restorations
Abrasive particles are classified from: - Answers Coarse to fine
A grade of abrasive that will abrade more efficiently? - Answers Coarse
Lubrication: - Answers Used to minimize heat building up at the surface of cutting
The following are considered soft dental deposits that can be removed by coronal polishing: - Answers
biofilm, materia alba, and pellicle
*supragingival calculus CANNOT be removed in this manner
Within what time period will plaque reform after brushing? - Answers Within 12-24 hrs
What forms within minutes of removal? - Answers Pellicle
, What is the polishing agent used on the tooth surface? - Answers Pumice or prophy paste
When a prophy paste is selected, the least abrasive paste possible should be selected for existing: -
Answers Stains and soft deposits
The finished and polished restoration should have: - Answers A smooth, continuous line, flush with the
tooth surface
Before finishing or polishing an amalgam or composite restoration, the clinician should check the
integrity of the cavosurface margins for extra material known as - Answers Flash
The following restoration surface has the fewest concerns with regards to the abrasiveness of the
polishing agent: - Answers amalgam
The following best describes the rubber-cup polishing stroke: - Answers Short, intermittent strokes
moving from the gingival margin toward the incisal/occlusal suface
In which direction should the polishing stroke move? - Answers Begin with the distal surface of the most
posterior tooth in the quadrant and work forward the anterior
The handpiece/prophy cup should be rotating at the following speed: - Answers At a slow speed
The handpiece and prophylaxis angle should be held in this position: - Answers Pen-grasp position
What kind of fulcrum is preferred? - Answers Intraoral fulcrum
For the mandibular arch, the patient's head chin should be positioned - Answers Down
For the maxillary arch, the patient's head chin should be positioned - Answers Up
How can you tell that you are applying enough pressure with the rubber cup while polishing? - Answers
The cup flares out slightly onto the tooth surface
Of the following, which is the most appropriate sequence for the procedure when polishing a patient
with moderate amounts of stain? - Answers Coarse polish, fine polish, floss teeth, fluoride treatment
The best way to assess if your polishing was performed to satisfaction is to: - Answers Use a disclosing
agent after the procedure
In Arizona, a Coronal Polish Certified assistant may use a scaler to remove calculus from a supragingival
dental surface. - Answers False, that is not one of a dental assistant's functions
In general, the most appropriate billable dental procedure to follow coronal polishing is: - Answers
Topical fluoride application
What is the benefit of polishing an amalgam surface? - Answers It creates a lustrous surface, it removes
tarnish, it decreases plaque-reaccumulation, it decreases the opportunity for corrosion
