©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Coronal Polishing Exam Questions And
Answers
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
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Coronal Polishing Exam Questions And
Answers
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
, ©SIRJOEL EXAM SOLUTIONS 2024/2025
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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
