Tooth polishing

Tooth polishing
Intervention

Polishing a tooth using a prophy cup.
ICD-9-CM 96.54
MeSH D003775

Tooth polishing is the act of smoothing the tooth surface.[1] The purpose of polishing is to make it difficult for plaque to accumulate on the tooth surface area.[2] Common practice is to use a prophy cup—a small motorized rubber cup—along with an abrasive polishing compound.

Equipment

Reference[3]

Rubber cup

Rubber cups are used in the hand-piece. Polishing paste, prophylactic paste, usually containing fluoride, is used with the rubber cups for polishing. Rubber cups should not be used over the cementum area as it may remove a layer of cementum at the cervical area.

Bristle brush

Bristle brushes are used in the prophylaxis angle with a polishing paste.The use of the brush should be confined to the crown to avoid injury to the gingiva and cementum.

Dental tape

Dental tape is used for polishing the proximal surfaces of teeth that are inaccessible to other polishing instruments. It is also used with polishing paste. Particular care should be taken to avoid injury to the gingiva.The area should be cleaned with warm water to remove all remnants of the paste.

Air-powder polishing

Air-powder polishing is used with a specially designed handpiece. This device is called Prophy-jet. It delivers an air-powder slurry of warm water and sodium bicarbonate for polishing. It is very effective for the removal of extrinsic stains and soft deposits. It is contraindicated in patients with respiratory illness, hemodialysis and hypertension.[3]

See also

References

  1. "Tooth Polishing Study Guide & Homework Help". eNotes.com. Retrieved 2013-03-17.
  2. http://www.dentalgentlecare.com/prophy
  3. 3.0 3.1 Newman, MG; Takei, HH;Klokkevold, PR; Carranza, FA; editors: Carranza’s Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2006. page 763.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Newman, MG; Takei, HH;Klokkevold, PR; Carranza, FA; editors: Carranza’s Clinical Periodontology, 10th Edition. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company, 2006. page 774.