MN Licensure Exam
Describe the motion/pressure when preforming a mechanical polish.
Accurate Answer - A quick light to moderate pressure should be used. on slow
speed pushing gently and overlapped.
What part of the rubber cup does the polishing? Accurate Answer -
THE OUTER EDGE DOES THE POLISHING
If a line of stain or deposits appear along the gingival margin after polishing,
the problem was? Accurate Answer - the prophy cup was not flexed or
adapted to the tooth.
The stroke used to polish a tooth is from the ---- third to the --- edge.
Accurate Answer - gingival third to the incisal edge
A mechanical polish removes what deposits and stains? Accurate
Answer - All soft deposits and extrinsic exogenous stains
List the objectives of a mechanical polish? Accurate Answer - Creates
smooth surfaces easier for patient cleaning, all soft deposits extrinsic stains
removed, contributes to pt. motivation.
What does excessive speed during a mechanical polish cause? Accurate
Answer - Abrasion and tramuatic frictional heat
List other factors that increase the rate of abrasion? Accurate Answer -
Dry Coarse Polishing Agent, irregular particles in polish, larger particles, Grit,
Number of particles, Amount of pressure and speed
Why is unwaxed floss preferred? Accurate Answer - May spread out
more
How would you remove heavy stains? Accurate Answer - Scaling
(and/or) root planing (Cannot be done by LDA)
RDA would use a higher grit polishing paste
Define characteristics of tissue abrasion from an incorrect placement of a
rubber cup. Accurate Answer - Red tissue and hurting
,Describe the movement of the hand to adapt the cup to the tooth when
polishing. Accurate Answer - Use short overlapping, intermittent
motions or stroking, lifting, wiping motion with wrist rotation
Give characteristics or a description of how you would explain a mechanical
polish to a new patient that is 3-4 years old. Accurate Answer - Show,
Tell in a way they will understand, let them Feel like prophy cup on finger, and
use imagination
What is used interproximally with an abrasive to remove stains?
Accurate Answer - Dental Floss, Tape
To polish place abrasive on contact areas between teeth and work floss/tape
into contacts
Which stain is being described?
Occurs in patient with poor oral hygiene where plaque collects
Accurate Answer - Brown and Yellow Stain
Which stain is being described?
Located on the cervical 1/3 of the maxillary anterior labials Accurate
Answer - Green Stain ( Light to Yellowish)
Which stain is being described?
Follows contour of gingival 1 mm of maxillary anterior labials Accurate
Answer - Green Stain (Light to yellowish)
Which stain is being described?
Gummy and is found on lingual of anterior teeth Accurate Answer -
Tobacco Stain
Which stain is being described?
Intrinsic, grayish brown and caused by an antibiotic. Accurate Answer -
Tetracycline
When is wax floss used? Accurate Answer - When stronger floss is
needed
Contact prior to RD (Rubber Dam) placement
For flossing and polishing interproximally
, What abrasive removes tenacious heavy stain? (tobacco) Accurate
Answer - Silex
What is pumice used for? Accurate Answer - Removes persistent stains
(not used on solid/resin) no fluoride is in it
What is zirconium silicate used for? Accurate Answer - Cleans/polishes
enamel, used on root surfaces, crowns
What is Whiting used for? Accurate Answer - Polishes dentures
(precipated Chalc)
What is tin oxide used for? Accurate Answer - Polishing teeth and
metallic restorations (fine white powder)
Which abrasives remove heavy stains? Accurate Answer - Silex and
Pumice
Which abrasives would be used after flour of pumice to leave the surface
smooth and shiny? Accurate Answer - Tin Oxide or Zirconium Silicate
A highly retentive stain found along the gingival third of the teeth which is
more common in females is? Accurate Answer - Black Line Stain
What must be done when positioning a patient for a mechanical polish on the
mandibular arch? Accurate Answer - patients chin down
lower jaw parallel to the floor
use a mirror to retract the tongue
All of the following principles are true regarding the application of abrasives
during a mechanical polish? Accurate Answer - apply cup using a low
speed
stroke from the gingival third with pressure to cause the cup to flare
use the most abrasive agent first and finish with the finest abrasive
Where does an extrinsic stain occur? Accurate Answer - Occurs on the
outer surface of a tooth
Describe the motion/pressure when preforming a mechanical polish.
Accurate Answer - A quick light to moderate pressure should be used. on slow
speed pushing gently and overlapped.
What part of the rubber cup does the polishing? Accurate Answer -
THE OUTER EDGE DOES THE POLISHING
If a line of stain or deposits appear along the gingival margin after polishing,
the problem was? Accurate Answer - the prophy cup was not flexed or
adapted to the tooth.
The stroke used to polish a tooth is from the ---- third to the --- edge.
Accurate Answer - gingival third to the incisal edge
A mechanical polish removes what deposits and stains? Accurate
Answer - All soft deposits and extrinsic exogenous stains
List the objectives of a mechanical polish? Accurate Answer - Creates
smooth surfaces easier for patient cleaning, all soft deposits extrinsic stains
removed, contributes to pt. motivation.
What does excessive speed during a mechanical polish cause? Accurate
Answer - Abrasion and tramuatic frictional heat
List other factors that increase the rate of abrasion? Accurate Answer -
Dry Coarse Polishing Agent, irregular particles in polish, larger particles, Grit,
Number of particles, Amount of pressure and speed
Why is unwaxed floss preferred? Accurate Answer - May spread out
more
How would you remove heavy stains? Accurate Answer - Scaling
(and/or) root planing (Cannot be done by LDA)
RDA would use a higher grit polishing paste
Define characteristics of tissue abrasion from an incorrect placement of a
rubber cup. Accurate Answer - Red tissue and hurting
,Describe the movement of the hand to adapt the cup to the tooth when
polishing. Accurate Answer - Use short overlapping, intermittent
motions or stroking, lifting, wiping motion with wrist rotation
Give characteristics or a description of how you would explain a mechanical
polish to a new patient that is 3-4 years old. Accurate Answer - Show,
Tell in a way they will understand, let them Feel like prophy cup on finger, and
use imagination
What is used interproximally with an abrasive to remove stains?
Accurate Answer - Dental Floss, Tape
To polish place abrasive on contact areas between teeth and work floss/tape
into contacts
Which stain is being described?
Occurs in patient with poor oral hygiene where plaque collects
Accurate Answer - Brown and Yellow Stain
Which stain is being described?
Located on the cervical 1/3 of the maxillary anterior labials Accurate
Answer - Green Stain ( Light to Yellowish)
Which stain is being described?
Follows contour of gingival 1 mm of maxillary anterior labials Accurate
Answer - Green Stain (Light to yellowish)
Which stain is being described?
Gummy and is found on lingual of anterior teeth Accurate Answer -
Tobacco Stain
Which stain is being described?
Intrinsic, grayish brown and caused by an antibiotic. Accurate Answer -
Tetracycline
When is wax floss used? Accurate Answer - When stronger floss is
needed
Contact prior to RD (Rubber Dam) placement
For flossing and polishing interproximally
, What abrasive removes tenacious heavy stain? (tobacco) Accurate
Answer - Silex
What is pumice used for? Accurate Answer - Removes persistent stains
(not used on solid/resin) no fluoride is in it
What is zirconium silicate used for? Accurate Answer - Cleans/polishes
enamel, used on root surfaces, crowns
What is Whiting used for? Accurate Answer - Polishes dentures
(precipated Chalc)
What is tin oxide used for? Accurate Answer - Polishing teeth and
metallic restorations (fine white powder)
Which abrasives remove heavy stains? Accurate Answer - Silex and
Pumice
Which abrasives would be used after flour of pumice to leave the surface
smooth and shiny? Accurate Answer - Tin Oxide or Zirconium Silicate
A highly retentive stain found along the gingival third of the teeth which is
more common in females is? Accurate Answer - Black Line Stain
What must be done when positioning a patient for a mechanical polish on the
mandibular arch? Accurate Answer - patients chin down
lower jaw parallel to the floor
use a mirror to retract the tongue
All of the following principles are true regarding the application of abrasives
during a mechanical polish? Accurate Answer - apply cup using a low
speed
stroke from the gingival third with pressure to cause the cup to flare
use the most abrasive agent first and finish with the finest abrasive
Where does an extrinsic stain occur? Accurate Answer - Occurs on the
outer surface of a tooth
