Polishing Strip
A polishing strip is a thin abrasive dental tool used to smooth interproximal tooth surfaces and composite restorations for precise, lasting results.
Category: Dental Equipment & Materials
Modern dentistry runs on a long inventory of instruments, materials, and consumables — and the language is dense. This section of the Rebrief Dental Glossary defines the equipment a dental operatory uses every day, plus the restorative and impression materials that go in patients’ mouths. On the equipment side: handpieces (high-speed, low-speed), articulators, autoclaves, biological sterilization indicators, ultrasonic scalers, and the burs (carbide, diamond) and polishing instruments that finish a restoration. On the materials side: amalgam, composite resin, glass ionomer, calcium hydroxide liners, alginate and polyvinyl siloxane impression materials, lithium disilicate ceramic, and the cements (polycarboxylate, dual-cure resin, temporary) that lute indirect restorations. We also cover digital workflow tools — 3D dental printing, CAD/CAM, intraoral scanners — and the consumables (acid etching gel, dental dam, retraction cord, matrix systems) that make routine procedures predictable. Each entry explains what the item is, what it’s used for, the clinical context where it matters, and links to related procedures and conditions. This is the longest subcategory in the glossary because the inventory is genuinely large. Use the search to jump straight to a term, or browse alphabetically below.
Dual-Cure Resin Cement
Dual-cure resin cement bonds restorations using both light and chemical curing, ensuring full polymerization beneath opaque crowns, posts, and bridges.
Light-Activated Resin
Light-activated resin hardens on demand using blue light — learn how this photopolymerized dental material works, its uses, and what affects cure quality.
Finishing Disc (Dental)
Finishing disc: the flexible abrasive tool used to contour and polish composite resin restorations. Learn grit types, technique, and clinical impact.
Lithium Disilicate Ceramic
Lithium disilicate ceramic offers superior strength and translucency for crowns, veneers, and bridges — a leading choice in modern metal-free restorations.
Oral Prophylactic Paste
Oral prophylactic paste is an abrasive material used in professional dental cleanings to remove plaque, stains, and deposits from tooth surfaces.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy uses custom-fitted intraoral devices to treat sleep apnea, bruxism, and TMJ disorders. Learn how MADs, TRDs, and splints work.
Night Guard Appliance
A night guard appliance protects teeth from bruxism-related damage. Learn how this custom oral device works, the types available, and its clinical benefits.
Dental Wax
Dental wax is a thermoplastic material central to dentistry, used for bite registration, cast restorations, impression boxing, and orthodontic comfort.
Gingival Retraction Cord
Gingival retraction cord displaces gum tissue to expose tooth margins for impressions. Learn cord types, impregnation options, and placement techniques.