What to Know About Dental Polishing (2024)

FAQs

What to Know About Dental Polishing? ›

Tooth polishing is considered quite safe for just about everyone. Patients with oral issues like cavities, exposed roots, sensitivity, or receding gums should have those problems addressed prior to polishing. Depending on the condition of your teeth and gums, it may be better to use a finer paste to polish the teeth.

Tooth polishing is an oral prophylactic procedure that involves the smoothening of the tooth surface, making it glossy and lustrous, reducing plaque deposition, therefore maintaining periodontal health.

During the process of tooth polishing, following things have to be taken care of: Use proper technique to reduce unnecessary abrasion on the exposed enamel and dentine surfaces. Select a least abrasive polishing agent that will remove plaque biofilm and stain. Control the time, speed and pressure during the procedure.

Step 1: Your teeth are inspected for decay and weak spots in the enamel. Step 2: Plaque and tartar are scraped from the surface of your teeth in a process called scaling. Step 3: Your teeth are then buffed and polished to remove staining before being flossed and topped with a protective coat of fluoride.

Polishing is often used to enhance the appearance of an item, prevent contamination of instruments, remove oxidation, create a reflective surface, or prevent corrosion in pipes.

Polishing is the process of creating a smooth and shiny surface by rubbing it or by applying a chemical treatment, leaving a clean surface with a significant specular reflection (still limited by the index of refraction of the material according to the Fresnel equations).

Tooth polishing helps keep plaque off your teeth. Research suggests that teeth polishing doesn't stop you from getting gum disease, but people who have polishing done tend to have less bacteria. You always have bacteria in your mouth, but some types cause cavities.

It is best to undergo this procedure at least once every three months. Polishing does help teeth look better and whiter but if your teeth are fine after the scaling procedure you may opt for polishing just twice a year.

The first step is a heavy cutting compound with a heavy cutting pad to remove those deeper swirl marks and scratches, the second step is a cutting polish and polishing pad to remove further swirls marks followed by the finishing polish and finishing pad to further refine the paint work to a swirl, mar and hologram free ...

What is the basic principle of polishing? ›

Normally, the polish is generated by using a fine-micron or sub-micron abrasive particle in combination with a liquid. Polishing is a “wet” process. Often the polishing process utilizes a pad to contain the abrasive, so polishing may not be a “loose abrasive process.” The pad is softer than the part.

However, like buffing, polishing also requires a high level of skill and experience to achieve the desired results. If done improperly, polishing can also cause swirl marks and holograms in the paint, detracting from the overall appearance of the car.

Tooth Polishing Procedures

If you have severe stains, your dental professional may use an air-polishing system, a jet of pressurized air and water mixed with an abrasive agent. Another option is therapeutic polishing, which helps remove bacteria from tooth roots exposed during dental surgery.

The cleaning process can sometimes cause minor swelling or sensitivity in the gums, and brushing too soon could irritate the gums further. It is advisable to wait for at least a few hours to allow your gums to recover before brushing.

A polisher is a dental handpiece that allows your hygienist to polish each tooth. Polishing is an important step in keeping your gums and teeth healthy and is essential for maintaining oral hygiene. Polishers are stainless steel air-driven, hand-held electrical devices.

Polishing is a finishing process in which stains may be removed and teeth become smooth and shiny. Though not absolutely necessary, polishing teeth after scaling does help to remove stains and remove bacteria from tooth roots that the normal scaling procedure could not reach and remove.

Ideal finishing and polishing of restorations improves aesthetics and maintains the oral health of a patient [7,8]. A smooth surface is needed to provide comfort to the patient and reduce irritations to cheeks, tongue, and lips.

A scale and polish is not primarily designed to whiten the teeth, as that is what teeth whitening treatments are for. With that said however, a scale and polish will in fact leave the teeth looking smooth, shiny, and whiter after the treatment.

Scaling is a routine procedure done to remove stubborn tartar and plaque build-up from below the gum line. After scaling, we will polish your teeth with a polishing paste and a rotating rubber cup (similar to an electric toothbrush), to improve the appearance of your teeth and remove bacteria.