N.B. Tungsten carbide tipped instruments should not need re-sharpening during the course, and in any case sharpening should be carried out by the manufacturer. Polishing Brushes are more efficient than rubber cups, but must not be use near the gingival margin. As over-heating is a danger, the patient must be told to indicate if there is any warmth at all. The risk is reduced by moving the cup or brush back and forward over several teeth rather than keeping it on one tooth until it is polished. Another danger is polishing paste splashing into the patient's eye.
Cups are less likely to throw off polish than brushes.
Paste thrown off on to the palate can be unbearably irritating. Polishing is not to be used for the removal of visible portions of calculus - return to the scalers and then repolish.