National Dental Assisting Examining Board (NDAEB) Practice Exam

True or False: An ultrasonic scaler is necessary for performing coronal polishing.

1. True

2. False

3. Only in certain situations

4. Sometimes, but not always

The correct answer is: False

Coronal polishing is a procedure that involves removing plaque and stains from the coronal surfaces of the teeth, typically using a rubber cup and polishing agent. An ultrasonic scaler is not necessary for this process, as coronal polishing can be effectively performed using hand instruments or a rotary handpiece with polishing cups and pastes. The main goal of coronal polishing is to achieve a clean tooth surface without the need for ultrasonic instrumentation. While ultrasonic scalers are valuable tools in dental hygiene for plaque removal and calculus scaling, their use is not essential for every coronal polishing procedure. By understanding that various techniques and tools can achieve the same end result in dental hygiene, it becomes clear why the claim regarding the necessity of ultrasonic scalers for coronal polishing is false.