Dental Polishing and Cleansing Agents: A Quick Guide to Coronal Polishing Considerations

While the concept of polishing was noted in Roman and Greek writings, it was Pierre Fauchard, the father of modern dentistry, who first introduced the practice for the removal of dental stains. Interestingly, Fauchard used materials such as finely ground coral, eggshells, ginger, or salt. As dental polishing techniques evolved over time, it was observed that stains were not the etiological factor in disease, making stain removal an esthetic concern rather than a health concern. This led Dr. Esther Wilkins to introduce the concept of selective polishing – the practice of only polishing surfaces with visible extrinsic stains.1
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Selective polishing is more than simply “only polishing areas of stain.” It involves the selection of appropriate polishing or cleansing agents and techniques to achieve a surface that reduces biofilm deposition.2,3 Polishing agents are abrasive, irregularly shaped particles with sharp edges used to remove extrinsic stains and leave the enamel smooth and shiny. If a polishing agent is chosen over a cleansing agent, the polishing process should progress from coarse abrasion to fine abrasion. Unlike polishing agents, cleansing agents are round, flat, nonabrasive particles that do not scratch surface material. Despite being nonabrasive, they produce a higher luster than polishing agents...

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