NUPRO Prophy Paste by Dentsply Sirona: A Practical Review

Grit is the choice that matters, and most hygienists default to one that's coarser than the case needs. NUPRO from Dentsply Sirona is the prophy paste that makes the choice easy to get right, sold across the full grit range from fine to extra-coarse, with or without fluoride. It removes plaque, extrinsic stain, and the pellicle left after scaling at the polishing step of a routine hygiene visit, and the grit and fluoride decisions have real consequences for enamel wear.

It sits on the preventive side of the operatory, next to the preventive and hygiene products a practice reorders every month.

Grit selection and why it matters

Prophy pastes come in grades from fine through medium and coarse to extra-coarse, and the grit is the single most consequential choice. Coarse and extra-coarse pastes remove heavy stain fast but abrade more enamel and cementum per use, and repeated coarse polishing over years contributes to surface loss and increased roughness that can actually attract more stain over time. Fine paste removes less stain per pass but is gentler and produces a smoother final surface. The sensible default is to use the finest grit that removes the stain present, reserving coarse grades for heavy tobacco or chlorhexidine stain and following any coarse polishing with a fine paste to leave a smooth surface. NUPRO offers the full grit range, which is the point of stocking it rather than a single-grit line.

Fluoride, flavors, and formulation

NUPRO is sold in fluoride and fluoride-free versions. The fluoride in the paste offers a small topical benefit during the polish, but it does not substitute for a dedicated fluoride varnish or gel, which stay in contact far longer at higher concentration. Choose the fluoride-free version when you plan to apply a separate fluoride treatment afterward, or when polishing before a procedure such as sealant or bracket placement where residual fluoride or paste could interfere with bonding. Flavor is a patient-comfort choice with no clinical weight, though it matters for pediatric cooperation. NUPRO also offers formulations without certain allergens and with different splatter characteristics, which is worth checking against your patient population and your operatory preferences.

Handling and technique

The technique is routine but a few habits keep it clean and effective:

1. Match the grit to the stain present, defaulting to the finest that works.
2. Load a rubber cup with enough paste to coat the tooth without flinging excess.
3. Run the handpiece at low speed with light intermittent pressure to limit heat and splatter.
4. Polish systematically, one surface at a time, refreshing paste as it depletes.
5. For bonding or sealant cases, use fluoride-free paste or a pumice slurry so no fluoride or oil residue remains.
6. Rinse thoroughly, then apply any separate fluoride treatment as a distinct step.

Low speed and light pressure are the two habits that most reduce aerosol and heat. High-speed heavy polishing throws splatter and offers no benefit in stain removal.

Where it fits

The value here is range, not any single formula: multiple grits, fluoride and fluoride-free, and flavors let a hygienist match the paste to the patient instead of compromising. The discipline to get right is grit, since routine over-use of coarse paste wears enamel over years. Default to the finest grit that clears the stain, apply fluoride as a separate step where indicated, and NUPRO covers a hygiene department's polishing at low cost per patient.