Part of the UT Health San Antonio.

UT Health San Antonio Continuing Dental EducationUT Health San Antonio Continuing Dental Education

Part of the UT Health San Antonio

Quicklinks

Contact Us | 210-567-3177

Logins

  • Dental School Intranet
  • Dental Student Absence Reporting
  • LiveMail
  • Canvas

Schedule/Calendar/Catalog

  • Class Schedule
  • Catalog
  • SOD Calendar
  • Academic Calendars

Health/Wellness

  • Student Health Center
  • Needlestick Guidelines
  • Needlestick Incident Report
  • Insurance
  • Counseling Services

Technology

  • Service Desk
  • Password Reset
  • TechZone (Computer Store)

Other

  • Voice Your Opinion
  • ADA Accommodations
  • Faculty Directory
  • Student Directory
  • Placement Service
  • Department List

Close Quicklinks

Menu
  • Home
  • My Profile
  • Find a Course
  • Online Learning
  • International CE
  • Job Placement
  • Alumni
  • School of Dentistry

Coronal Polishing for the Dental Assistant (Date TBA)

TSBDE-Approved Course for Certification

June 7, 2019

Course Overview

This program offers eight (8) hours of clinical and didactic education required by the Texas State Board of Dental Examiners for certification in coronal polishing taken at a dental school, dental hygiene school or dental assisting school accredited by the Commission of Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. “Coronal polishing” means the removal of plaque and extrinsic stain from exposed natural and restored tooth surfaces using an appropriate rotary instrument with rubber cup or brush and polishing agent. This includes the use of a toothbrush.

Rule 114.5 states that dental assistants must have at least two years of dental assisting experience and work under the direct supervision of a licensed dentist. Texas dentists may delegate coronal polishing to a dental assistant once they successfully take this course.


Objectives

Course of instruction will include:

  • Oral anatomy and tooth morphology relating to retention of plaque and stain
  • Indications, contraindications, and complications of coronal polishing
  • Principles of coronal polishing, including armamentarium, operator and patient positioning, technique, and polishing agents
  • Infection control procedures
  • Polishing coronal surfaces of teeth
  • Jurisprudence relating to coronal polishing


  • The laboratory and clinical activity will include training in using a slow-speed hand piece; principles of coronal polishing; armamentarium; operator and patient positioning, polishing technique, polishing agents, and polishing coronal surfaces of teeth.


    Presenter(s)

    • Lynn A. Smiley, RDH, MEd
      • LYNN A. SMILEY, RDH, MEd, is a clinical instructor in the Division of Dental Hygiene, Department of Periodontics at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She has 25 years of experience as a clinical dental hygienist. She is currently course director for Introduction to Clinical Theory, PreClinical Dental Hygiene, Clinic I and Clinic I Seminar. You may contact this author at smiley@uthscsa.edu
    Disclosures & Policies

    No Recording and Transcription Policy
    To protect the privacy, security, and integrity of our programs, meetings, and events, recording of any kind is strictly prohibited unless expressly authorized in writing by the department director. This includes, but is not limited to:
    - Video recordings (camera, phone, webcam, or other devices)
    - Audio recordings (phone, microphone, digital recorders, etc.)
    - Screen captures or screen recordings
    - AI-based or automated transcription tools (e.g., apps or software that convert speech to text)

    Guidelines: All participants are expected to respect this policy at all times. If recording is necessary as an accommodation, or for education or administrative purposes, prior approval must be obtained in writing. Unauthorized recording or transcription may result in removal from the session and/or further administrative action. Exceptions may only be granted by the department director in advance. Taking detailed notes is encouraged, and participants are welcome to take pictures of the presentation slides for personal use.

    Purpose: This policy ensures a safe and respectful environment, protects sensitive and proprietary information, and upholds the confidentiality of all participants.

    Financial Disclosure Statement
    It is the policy of the UT Health San Antonio Office of Continuing Dental Education to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all of its sponsored educational activities. All participating speakers, course directors, and planning committee members are required to disclose to the program audience any financial relationships related to the subject matter of this program. Relationships of spouse/partner with proprietary entities producing health care goods or services should be disclosed if they are of a nature that may influence the objectivity of the individual in a position to control the content of the CDE activity. Disclosure information is reviewed in advance in order to manage and resolve any possible conflicts of interest. Specific disclosure information for each speaker, course director, and planning committee member will be shared with the audience prior to the speaker’s presentation.

    This educational activity is free from commercial bias. The planning committee, presenters, and authors have disclosed all financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this content, and any potential conflicts have been identified and mitigated according to ADA CERP standards. No commercial entities have influenced the content, selection, or presentation of materials, and no product endorsements or promotional activities are included in this presentation. Any mention of products, services, or companies is solely for educational purposes and does not imply endorsement.

    There is nothing to disclose for this course.

    Course Refund Policy
    Please review the Course Refund Policy by clicking here. This policy includes information regarding requirements that attendees must comply with to remain eligible to receive CE, cancelling your registration, course transfers, etc.


    Time

    Check-in: 7:30 AM
    Program time: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM


    Location

    UT Health San Antonio, School of Dentistry


    Tuition

    • Dental Assistant: $340

    Credit

    Hours: 8

    This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) through joint efforts of UT Health San Antonio. UT Health San Antonio is recognized by the ADA CERP as a provider of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

    Course Dates TBA

    This summer course’s dates will be announced soon. Join our mailing list here to be among the first to register!

    Dental Assistants!

    Master coronal polishing plus get certified!

    Course Note

    The course director is Lynn Smiley, M.Ed., R.D.H.

    Registration closed

    Class is full


    Register for other dates
    March 10, 2026

    • For help or questions about this program, you can contact us at:
    • Phone: (210) 567-3177
      Email: smile@uthscsa.edu
    UT Health San Antonio Training Future Generations

    The UT Health San Antonio, School of Dentistry is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education.
    ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. UTHSCSA designates the number of credit hours for each course individually. Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to ADA CERP at www.ada.org/cerp.

    UT Health San Antonio
    School of Dentistry

    7703 Floyd Curl Drive
    San Antonio, TX 78229

    210-567-7000

    Stay Connected
    • Contact us
    • Maps & directions
    • Patient Rights and Responsibilities
    • Language Assistance
    We make lives better ©

    We're a part of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio, provider of comprehensive health,  dental, &  cancer care,  advanced academics,  and  life-saving research.

    Web Privacy | Links from websites affiliated with The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio's website (uthscsa.edu) to other websites do not constitute or imply university endorsement of those sites, their content, or products and services associated with those sites. The content on this website is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Health information on this site is not meant to be used to diagnose or treat conditions. Consult a health care provider if you are in need of treatment.