Ch. 16 polishing material and abrasives

Two body polishing

Type of polishing using 2 materials agsint each other (cup and tooth only)

3 body polishing

(Cup, paste, tooth)

Chalk

Also known as calcium carbonate or whiting. A material form of calcite

Used to polish teeth, gold, amalgam and plastic materials

Pumice

-It's a silica-like material made of volcanic glass

-Used to polish enamel, gold foil, amalgam, and finishing acrylic denture bases

in labs

-Most common used abrasive material in polishing pastes

Tin oxide

-It's a silica-like material made of volcanic glass

-Used to polish enamel, gold foil, amalgam, and finishing acrylic denture bases

in labs

-Most common used abrasive material in polishing pastes

Aluminum oxide

-It's a silica-like material made of volcanic glass

-Used to polish enamel, gold foil, amalgam, and finishing acrylic denture bases

in labs

-Most common used abrasive material in polishing pastes

Bonded and coated abrasives such as burs and finishing strips

Diamond burs are small chips of diamond that are to a metal shaft

Polishing powders

Are used in conjunction with other vehicles such as water, alcohol, glycerin, fluoride or mouthwash to make slurries for polishing

Factors that affect rate of abrasion

Hardness- the abrasive must be harder than the surface being abraded or nothing, will happen

Size, grit, pressure, speed, shape and lubrication

Air polishing

Air polishing uses air, water, and powder to polish

The gold standard for air polishing powders is sodium bicarbonate (calcium phosphate and silica)

Contraindication for air polishing

Physician indicated sodium restricted diet

Asthma

Patient with communicable infection

Air polishing techniques

Angle hand piece of 60 degrees towards anterior teeth

90 degrees to posterior teeth

90 degrees to occlusal surface

Safe around implants