What level of supervision allows a dental assistant to polish clinical crowns?

The correct answer is direct supervision, as this type of supervision is required for certain procedures performed by dental assistants, including the polishing of clinical crowns. In direct supervision, a licensed dentist must be present in the treatment facility and actively involved in the procedure. This oversight ensures that the dental assistant has the guidance and support needed when performing tasks that could affect patient safety and treatment outcomes.

Polishing clinical crowns involves the use of specific equipment and techniques that require not only knowledge but also the ability to respond to any unexpected changes in the patient's condition during the procedure. Therefore, the presence of a dentist is crucial to ensure that everything is performed correctly and safely.

Other levels of supervision, such as general supervision, involve a dentist’s overall responsibility for patient care without the need for the dentist to be present during procedures. Indirect supervision means the dentist must authorize the procedure and be available to provide immediate assistance if necessary but does not need to be in the treatment area. Non-supervised implies that no dentist oversight is required, which is not appropriate for procedures like polishing clinical crowns that require higher levels of supervision.