Coronal Polishing for Dental Assistants

This eight-hour course will meet the educational requirements for certification for Georgia and is designed to satisfy the Georgia Board of Dentistry’s educational requirements for dental auxiliary personnel who will qualify for certification in coronal polishing under a dentist’s direct supervision. This is the first course approved by the Georgia Board of Dentistry for coronal polishing, and it consists of both didactic and practical components.

Classroom Learning via Webinar
The classroom learning for coronal polishing is now be available online via recorded webinar. After viewing the webinars we will send you a link to the exam for each course completed. After passing the exam for each course, the registrant will then be eligible to register for an appointment to meet with an instructor to take the clinical applications course.

Clinical Applications
All registrants must meet with a GDA-approved clinical instructor in-person (not available virtually) and pass the clinical applications in order to receive a certificate of completion. Clinical courses will be available by appointment only so that we may maintain social distancing throughout the appointment. After passing the classroom learning each registrant will be given the name and phone number of the person scheduling clinical application appointments. As in the past, we will hold courses in Columbus and Athens, but most clinical courses will be held in the Atlanta area, and some travel may be required for course completion. Should we have enough registrants from a specific practice or area we may be able to schedule a course at your location. Please contact Scott Piper at 404-636-7553 for more information.

Steps to Earning Coronal Polishing Certification
1. Register online for Coronal Polishing virtual learning webinar. Once you have registered you will receive an email with links to the webinars purchased.
2. View webinar (only registrants that have completed each webinar in its entirety will be eligible to take the exam)
3. Quiz - After completing the webinars, contact Sheila Watson at 404-636-7553 or sheila@gadental.org for the quiz for each section.
4. Schedule an appointment to meet in-person with a GDA-approved Coronal Polishing instructor.

To be eligible to attend the GDA Coronal Polishing Program the dental assistant must meet one of the following criteria:

1) Be a graduate of a one (1) year accredited dental assisting program or a dental assisting program approved by the Board, or
2) Have been employed as a chair side assistant by a licensed dentist for a continuous twelve (12) month period within the previous three (3) years.

In Addition, the candidate must have a high school diploma, or the equivalent thereof and proof of current CPR certification. Courses are offered on a FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED basis. Registration closes when a course reaches capacity OR one week to course date – whichever comes first. (This is to allow the assistant to become familiar with the course study guides and gather all required clinical materials.)

If you have questions regarding coronal polishing, please contact Scott Piper 404-636-7553 or scottp@gadental.org.

Course Overview
This program offers 8 hours of clinical and didactic education required by the Georgia Board of Dentistry for certification in coronal polishing. This course will include:

Oral anatomy
Tooth morphology
Indications, contraindications, risks and complications for coronal polishing
Ethics and jurisprudence relating to coronal polishing
Indications for professionally applied topical fluoride agents for caries prevention
Fluoride delivery methods

The laboratory and clinical activity will include:

Training in using a slow-speed hand piece
Principles of coronal polishing
Operator & patient positioning/ergonomics
Polishing coronal surfaces of teeth, preferred polishing technique, polishing agents
Coronal polish on typodonts
Coronal polish on partner and practical with disclosing solution

Objectives

State the effect polishing has on the patient, oral environment, teeth, and gingival tissues
Identify indications for polishing the teeth
Understand the definition of plaque, types of stain, calculus, and related terminology
Discuss contraindications for polishing the teeth
Distinguish between abrasion, abrasive, and polishing
Understand dental armamentarium - the equipment and instruments used in the delivery of dental care
Identify abrasive polishing agents commonly used in coronal polishing
Determine how particle size/shape, speed, and pressure affect abrasiveness
Recognize different abrasive agents
Demonstrate use of a slow speed hand piece and prophylaxis angle on a partner in clinic
Define cumulative trauma disorders and explain how the dental assistant might prevent such injuries

Cost
$265 for dental assistants working for a GDA member dentist
$350 for all others

Georgia Board of Dentistry Policy on Coronal Polishing
Georgia Board of Dentistry

Policy on Coronal Polishing (“rubber cup prophy”)

PLEASE read this policy before completing the Registration Form and the Affidavit of Eligibility.

Definition of Prophylaxis – Child (D1120)

Removal of plaque, calculus and stains from the tooth structures in the primary and transitional dentition. It is intended to control local irrational factors.

Requirements for calculus removal

Calculus, if present during a “rubber cup prophy”, must be identified and removed by a Georgia-licensed DMD/DDS or RDH only.

Age of primary dentition

The American Dental Association (ADA) lists the presence of primary teeth from approximately one year to about age twelve. The Georgia Board of Dentistry recognizes and accepts these basic parameters as the ages when primary teeth are present in a child.

Billing as a Prophylaxis

The prophylaxis, D1120, includes the combined processes of examination (DMD/DDS), calculus removal if present (DMD/DDS/RDH) and coronal polishing, “rubber cup prophy” (Trained DA).

Training in Coronal Polishing (“Rubber Cup Prophy”) for Dental Assistants

A dental assistant with at least one year of prior chairside experience or a graduate of an approved dental assisting program is eligible to attend an 8 hour pre-approved course of study that includes didactic and clinical applications necessary for coronal polishing (“rubber cup prophy”) and shall include:
- Ethics and Georgia jurisprudence related to coronal polishing
- Identify the potential risks, indications and contraindications for coronal polishing
- Understand the definition of plaque, types of stain, calculus, and related terminology
- Dental anatomy and morphology for the proper identification of adult and child dentition
- Principles of coronal polishing including, but not limited to –
- Indications for professionally applied topical fluoride agents for caries prevention
- Fluoride Delivery Methods
GDA Cancellation and Refund Policy

Due to a large number of no shows and last minute cancellations, the GDA Board of Trustees passed the following rule regarding coronal polishing cancellations and refunds:

Registration fees may be transferred to another course date one time only if notification is received at least 30 days prior to the scheduled course date. Cancellations or transfers after that time will not be permitted, with the exception of extreme extenuating circumstances. There are no refunds.

Requests for transfer or cancellation must be received in writing. Requests for cancellation between 30 and 15 days prior to the course, will be issued a CREDIT for the cost of the course. The credit is issued to the payer of the course (usually the dentist, but may be the assistant in some cases); the credit is valid for one (1) year from the date of the course for which they were registered. It is the responsibility of the creditor to keep track of when the credit expires AND to notify the GDA when the credit is being redeemed.

Credit may be used for the same assistant at a different course date and location or for another assistant.

2023 GDA Expanded Duties and Coronal Polishing Skills Assessment Calendar

February 18 - Atlanta
April 15 - Columbus
June 3 - Athens
August 19 - Fayetteville
November 4 - Columbus
December 2 - Atlanta

For more information on Coronal Polishing classes, contact us.

Coronal Polishing for Dental Assistants

To be eligible to attend the GDA Coronal Polishing Program the dental assistant must meet one of the following criteria:

2023 GDA Expanded Duties and Coronal Polishing Skills Assessment Calendar

Stay Connected

General Information

Sections

Resources