Practice Exam 1 Flashcards
which of the following would you choose to open a tooth for endo treatment?
A. beavertail Burnisher
B. inverted cone bur
C. round bur
D. cross-cut bur
C
A round bur is a cutting bur. It is used to open a cavity and remove carious material. It is also used to open a tooth for endodontic treatment.
which of the following calls for impacted extraction?
A. A tooth that has developed carious lesions along the lingual surface.
B. A deciduous tooth that has not fallen out and is crowding permanent teeth.
C. A tooth which is unable to erupt because it is covered with gingival tissue.
D. Deep and infected gingival pockets.
B
Impacted teeth are unable to erupt because they are impeded by soft tissue or bone. This requires an extraction and typically happens under conscious sedation.
A tooth is partially erupted and covered with tissue and the grooves are inaccessible. In this case, what should happen?
A. Etchant should be applied up to the tissue.
B. Etchant should be applied under the tissue.
C. Etchant should be applied around the tissue.
D. Etchant should not be applied.
D
When the grooves are inaccessible, etchant should not be applied. Another means of providing caries prevention should be temporarily used until the etchant and sealant can be applied properly.
Prior to applying etchant, the teeth fissures and pits must be cleaned. This step can be accomplished using all of the following EXCEPT for:
A. Pumice.
B. Prophy paste.
C. Bristles of a wet brush.
D. Bristles of a dry brush.
C
The teeth can be cleaned using pumice, prophy paste, or the bristles of a dry brush prior to etching. A wet brush should not be used to clean the teeth.
When preparing an instrument tray for a prophylactic scaling, cutterage, and polishing procedure, all but which of the following should be included?
A. Periodontal probe.
B. Gracey curette.
C. Dental floss.
D. Suture set up.
D
Prophylatic scaling and cutterage does not involve incisions. Therefore you do not need to include the suture set up on the instrument tray for this procedure.
Patient education to help maintain oral health might include dietary recommendations such as:
A. Avoid sodas and “energy” drinks.
B. Eat high acid-content foods, such as pickles.
C. Allow small children to frequently sip on fruit juices.
D. Eat sugar-coated cereals for breakfast.
A
Sodas and “energy” drinks contain larges amount of caffeine and sugar, which is damaging to the teeth. Also, these items do not provide healthy nutrition to allow proper development in young children. Children and adults should limit, if not totally eliminate, these drinks to prevent caries.
In addition to considering the tooth surfaces, treatment planning for sealants should also take into account:
A. The patient’s age.
B. Patient’s occupation.
C. Caries risk factor.
D. Exercise habits.
C
Besides considering the tooth surfaces, the orthodontal or general dental teeth should also consider the patient’s caries risk factor when planning a treatment. Some health conditions might make some patients more prone to caries.
When instructing a patient how to choose an appropriate toothbrush, which of the following head sizes should you suggest?
A.1 inch x ½ inch.
B. 1 inch x 1 inch.
C. 1 inch x 1 ½ inches.
D. ½ inch x ½ inch.
A
The toothbrush head should be small to allow for easy access and use in the mouth. 1 inch x ½ inch is the ideal size for an adult brushed.
The foot pedal on the handpiece that controls speed is known as which of the following?
A. Accelerator.
B. Hemostat.
C. Modulator.
D. Rheostat.
D
Dental handpieces are controlled with foot pedals. These are known as rheostats. The use of a foot pedal allows an operator to modulate speed of the handpiece while leaving the hands free to conduct treatment.
Filled sealants are usually what color?
Opaque. Metallic. Clear (transparent). Tinted.
Opaque
Filled sealants are opaque. They come in white or tooth-colored shades.
A work practice control to minimize needlesticks includes:
A. Placing several sharps containers close to where the items are used.
B. Using wastebaskets for broken needles.
C. Filling the sharps container to the lid.
D. Having one large centrally located sharps container for the office.
A
One means to minimize needlesticks is to provide several sharps containers close to where the items are used. One large centrally located sharps container involves travel risks. Additionally, sharps containers should never be filled to the lid nor should wastebaskets be used to dispose of broken needles.
The mucosal surfaces of the eyes, nose, and mouth are affected by which route of infection?
Direct contact. Indirect contact. Aerosol. Droplet.
Droplet infection is caused by aerosol. It affects the mucosal surfaces. This includes transfer through the eyes, nose, and mouth.
How long will sealants protect teeth?
5 - 10 years. 10 - 15 years. 15 - 20 years. 20 + years.
Sealants protect teeth for 5 - 10 years. They wear down naturally. So after some time, sealants can be re-applied, especially on permanent molars.
Antibiotic prophylaxis should be considered for patients who have which of the following?
Osteoporosis. Infective endocarditis. Diabetes. Low blood pressure.
B
Antibiotic prophylaxis for dental procedures may be recommended for patients with underlying cardiac conditions associated wit the highest risk of adverse outcome from infective endocarditis.
Common causes of unconsciousness in dental surgery include all of the following except:
Cardiac arrest. Skeletal fracture. Syncope. Airway obstruction.
B
Common causes of unconsciousness in dental surgery include all of the following except skeletal fracture. Temporary loss of consciousness from fainting (syncope) is precipitated by psychological factors such as pain or fear and most commonly occur in young males.
The portion of a bur that is inserted into the dental handpiece is known as which of the following?
Neck. Head. Shoulder. Shank.
The portion of the bur that inserts into the dental handpiece is the shank. Shanks may be straight, latching, or friction-grip.
An adult should get which of the following amounts of fluoride each day for optimal dental health?
15 mg. .5 mg. 100 mg. 4 mg.
The daily recommended fluoride intake for an adult is between 1.5 and 4 mg daily. Because fluoride can come from a number of sources, it is key to take into account all potential sources of fluoride before supplementing.
Although infectious agents are present at this stage, they are less in number or not as effective.
Prodromal. Acute. Convalescent. Incubation.
C
There are four stages of infectious disease. Incubation: The time when the infectious agent enters the body, but recognizable symptoms have not yet appeared. Prodromal: The first symptoms of the illness appear. Acute: Symptoms of the illness are obvious. Convalescent: The number of microorganisms decreases or they become less effective.
Hands at the throat is the universal signal for which of the following?
Choking. Allergies. Angina. Asthma.
The risk of choking increases during dental procedures. An airway may be blocked by pastes or debris. If a patient brings his or her hands to the throat, ask if he or she is choking.
Which of the following is NOT true of fluoride gel that is used in the home?
A. It should not be used as a substitute for regular toothpaste.
B. It should only be used as often as directed by the dentist.
C. The patient should continue his or her regular oral hygiene regimen in addition to the gel usage.
D. It should be used at all toothbrushings.
D
Prescription fluoride gel should only be used as often as directed by the dentist – often just once a day. The patient should continue to brush with regular toothpaste at other times throughout the day. Prescription gel is not a substitute for regular toothpaste, but an addition to an oral care routine.
Hemostats are used when bending wire to:
A. Place ligatures wire over bracket wings.
B. Cut archwire.
C. Bend round wires.
D. Bend rectangular wire
A
Hemostats are used for a variety of purposes in dentistry and orthodontics. This basic instrument can be used for holding small items. During wire bending, the hemostat is used to place elastomeric modules, elastic chains, and ligature wires over bracket winds.
When placing a rubber dam in a patient’s mouth, which of the following is the appropriate FIRST step?
A. Have the patient thoroughly rinse her mouth.
B. Explain to the patient what you are going to do.
C. Clamp the dam to the appropriate tooth with the forceps.
D. Insert the saliva ejector.
Explain to the patient what you are going to do
The rubber dam procedure can be uncomfortable for patients, especially those who may be claustrophobic. Explaining what you are going to do before you begin helps to reassure the patient.
Sealants will not prevent decay in which tooth surface?
Occlusal. Interproximal. Buccal-occusal. Lingual-occusal.
interproximal
Sealants will not prevent decay on all tooth surfaces. For instance, sealants will not help teeth prone to interproximal decay.
A dental assistant finds herself at the infectious disease stage where the infectious agent has entered her body, but recognizable symptoms have not yet appeared. What is this stage?
Prodromal. Acute. Convalescent. Incubation.
Incubation
There are four stages of infectious disease. Incubation: The time when the infectious agent enters the body, but recognizable symptoms have not yet appeared. Prodromal: The first symptoms of the illness appear. Acute: Symptoms of the illness are obvious. Convalescent: The number of microorganisms decreases or they become less effective.
A dental unit with equipment that is located at the operator’s side, mounted to a moveable cart, is known as which of the following?
Rear delivery. Side delivery. Thoracic delivery. Lateral delivery.
A side delivery system is an equipment system that is located on the dentist’s side. It may be on a moveable arm or mobile cart.
Jaw opening involves which movement of the mandible?
Depression. Elevation. Protrusion. Retraction (retrusion).
Depression
The mandible is capable of a variety of movements. When the mandible opens, it involves depression of the bone.
The proper sequence of steps for sealants is:
Clean, etch, seal, cure. Clean, cure, etch, seal. Cure, etch, clean, seal. Seal, etch, clean, cure.
Clean, etch, seal, cure
The correct sequence for applying etchant and sealant is: clean, etch, seal, and cure. During these steps, the teeth should be kept dry.
During orthodontic procedures, the assistant might perform all of the following activities EXCEPT for:
A. Mix or prepare the cement.
B. Prepare orthodontic bands for cementation.
C. Cement orthodontic bands to the teeth.
D. Remove the cement from the around the gums after placing the bands.
Cement orthodontic bands to the teeth
The assistant performs many of the functions during orthodontic procedures. For instance, the assistant mixes and prepares the cement, prepares the bands to be cemented, and removes cement from around the gums. However, the orthodontist will actually cement the bands to the teeth.
Which of the following instruments would you choose to contour the alveolar bone?
Finishing bur. Surgical bur. Diamond bur wheel. Beavertail burnisher.
The surgical bur is used to contour the alveolar bone and tooth structure. It is used with the low speed dental handpiece.
When a patient arrives for an early morning appointment and complains of not feeling well, has clammy skin, a racing pulse, and slight numbness in the arm, the healthcare worker should:
Wait for the dentist to arrive.
Call EMS immediately.
Contact the patient’s physician.
Call the patient’s spouse for information.
Call EMS immediately
If the patient is in great stress and can’t be placed in a dental chair, EMS should immediately be called. The patient’s health history should be reviewed and the person to be contacted should be identified.
A plastic, U-shaped dental dam frame is known as which of the following?
Otsby frame.
Young frame.
U-frame.
Osborne frame.
A plastic, U-shaped dental dam frame is known as a U-frame. A metal U-frame is known as a Young frame.
The zygomatic bones are the:
Upper jaw. Lower jaw. Neck. Cheeks.
The zygomatic bones are the bones of the cheeks. The upper jaw bones are the maxilla. The lower jaw bones is the mandible. The neck comprises of bones called vertebrae.
A problem with heat-curing acrylic resin is the heat:
Makes the resin too hard. Makes the resin too soft. Distorts the fine spring components of the appliances. Hardens the fine spring components of the appliance.
Distorts the fine spring components of the appliances
Acrylic baseplates used to be commonly made with a heat-curing resin. The disadvantage of the heat-curing resin was it distorted the fine spring components of some appliances. Now, baseplates are made from a self-curing resin.
What will prevent exposure to mercury vapor from a poorly filled capsule?
Amalgamator. Gloves. Cover on amalgamator. Vacuuming the carpet.
Cover on amalgamator
A leaked capsule will cause mercury vapor. Exposure to mercury vapor can be prevented if the cover on the amalgamator is used.
Which patient is contraindicated to receiving a sealant?
A patient is about to have maxillo-facial surgery. A patient's molars are semi-erupted. A patient has cleft palate. A patient has cleft lip.
Sealants should not be used on semi-erupted teeth. This is a contraindication.
What is one of the most common chemical hazard warning labels in the workplace.
Keep out. Flammable solvents. Warm to touch. Danger.
Flammable solvents Chemicals are hazardous. Most are capable of catching on fire.
OSHA recommends proper disposal of scrap amalgam because of:
Silver. Mercury. Iron. Nickel.
Amalgam was at one time a commonly used substance for dental fillings. Amalgam contained mercury, which has been the source of an ongoing controversy.
Which of the following would you NOT place on the tray for a composite procedure set-up?
Diamond disc. Composite burnisher. Spoon excavator Composite finishing discs.
Diamond discs are not used in composite procedures. For polishing and carving purposes, composite placement instruments, finishing strips, and composite finishing discs are used.
The next step after applying the etchant material (acid) is to:
Rinse the surfaces. Dry the surfaces. Apply the sealant. Cure with a light.
The next step after allowing the etchant to sit for its appropriate time is rinsing. The etchant must be rinsed from the surfaces. Then, the clinician should dry the teeth and look to see if they are adequately etched.
Etchant is which chemical?
Hydrochloric acid. Acetic acid. Phosphoric acid. Sulphuric acid.
Etchant is phosphoric acid. The other answer choices may be used for other purposes in the dental setting, but not for sealing the teeth.
