Wallace Dental Assisting Midterm

What are the phases mouth opening and movement of the TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint)

Jaw open = Hinge

Jaw wide open = Glide and Hinge movement

Which of the following is the second phase in mouth opening of the TMJ

Glide

What are sharp containers

A “trash can” for contaminated needles, scalpel blades, orthodontic wires or endodontic instruments

What are the qualities that make a sharp container

All the answers are correct

Who is responsible for laundering contaminated PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

The employer or laundry service

What is the space between the teeth and the inner mucosal lining

Oral vestibule

What nerve is the primary source of innervation in the oral cavity

Trigeminal nerve (5th cranial nerve)

What bone forms the cheekbones

Zygomatic bone

What are some materials that surface barriers are made of

All the answers are correct

What are most surface barriers made of

Plastic

What are critical instruments

Instruments that touch bone or penetrate soft tissue

What are examples of critical instruments

• Forceps

• Scalpels

• Bone Chisels

• Scalers

• Burs

What are semi-critical instruments

Instruments that touch the mucous membranes but won't touch bone or penetrate soft tissue

What are examples of semi-critical instruments

• Mouth mirrors

• High volume evacuator (HVE) tips

• Rubber dam forceps

• X-ray film holders

• Amalgam carriers

What are noncritical instruments

Instruments that make contact only with intact skin

What are examples of noncritical instruments

• Position Indicator Device (PID) of the X-ray

• Lead apron

• Curing lights

What kind of instruments should be heat sterilized

Both critical and semi-critical

What instruments do not need to be heat sterilized (disinfestation/basic cleaning is sufficient enough)

noncritical

What are the four types of tissue that make up the teeth

• Enamel

• Dentin

• Pulp

• Cementation

What part of the tooth does the enamel make up

Anatomic crown

Is enamel the hardest material in the body

Yes! (Lara yes)

What tissue makes up the main portion of the tooth function

Dentin

What is the pulp of a tooth

Contains nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue

What is the purpose of the cementum

To protect the root of the tooth AND join the enamel of the CEJ (cementoenamel junction)

What tissues make up the periodontium

• Cementum

• Alveolar Bone

• Periodontal ligament

IN THIS EXACT ORDER

What teeth make up anterior teeth

Incisors and canines

What are the tooth numbers for anterior teeth

#6 - 11 and #22 - 27

What teeth makes up the posterior teeth

Premolars and molars

What are the tooth numbers for posterior teeth

#1 - 5, #12 - 16 and #17 - 21, #28 - 32

What are the reasons why instruments are wrapped/packaged before sterilization

All the answers are correct

What is the work pattern to sterilizing instruments

• Dirty

• Clean

• Contaminated

• Pre-Clean

• Storage

What are the seven steps for instrument processing

1. Transport

2. Cleaning

3. Packaging

4. Sterilization

5. Storage

6. Delivery

7. Quality Assurance Program

What is a soft tissue exam

A complete examination involving the:

• Lymph Nodes

• Neck

• Cheeks

• Lips

• Mucosa

• Palate

• Tonsil Area

• Tongue

• Floor of the mouth

What is a oral cavity exam

Examination of the teeth and mouth

What is an extra-oral exam

An examination of large areas of the jaw or skull

What is a dental exam

Gathering and recording specific components of:

• Head and neck examination

• Soft tissue examination

• Examination of the teeth AND periodontal tissue

• Diagnostic radiographic and imaging

• Impressions to create a diagnostic cast/model

• Photographs

(All the previous exams combined)

What is detection

Discovers problems/imperfections via explorer

What is palpation

The examiner’s hands are used to examine texture, size, and consistency of hard and soft tissue in the mouth for any abnormalities (via fingers) 

What is probing

he examination of the gum pockets around the teeth using a thin, calibrated instrument called a periodontal probe to measure the depth of the pockets and assess gum health (via periodontal probe)

What is the only way to determine that sterilization has occurred

Biological monitoring (spore testing) is the only approved way to confirm whether sterilization has occurred

What is a sub-supine position

The patient’s head is lower than the feet

What is an upright position

90 degrees (or a right angle/sitting in a chair normally)

What is a supine position

The chair back is lowered until the patient is almost lying down

What is an elevated position

The patient is standing (literally standing straight)

What determines the position of the dental chair

• Specific dental procedure '

• Area of the mouth

What is done in the reception area of the dental clinic

• Patients are received, pleasantly greeted, and feel welcomed at the dental office

• Patients “wait” for their scheduled appointment

What is done in the dental lab

• Used to pour impressions

• Prepare study models

• Polish removable items (like dentures or space maintainers)

What is done in the general office of a dental clinic

• Aka business office

• Hub for management of the business side of dentistry

• Scheduling area

• Financial and insurance arrangements

• Patient record storage

What is done in the dental operatory of a dental clinic

• Also known as treatment rooms

• Heart of the clinical area

• Where patients receive treatment (or operate on)

Who developed the standard classification system used to describe the location of decay

G.V Black (aka father of modern dentistry)

What color indicates that a dental treatment has been treated

Blue or black ink

What color represents indicates that dental needs to be completed in future dental appointments

Red ink

What critical information is needed before providing dental treatment

Comprehensive medical and dental history

What is necessary when recording vital signs

• Sphygmomanometer 

• Thermometer 

• Stethoscope 

How is the mouth mirror and explorer delivered to the dentist

Two hand exchange

What hand is used to retrieve dental instruments from a dental tray

Left hand (if I am working with a right handed dentist aka also me)

What is an HVE and what is it used for

• High-volume evacuator

• Basically a suction that sucks out saliva, blood, water, and debris

Why is a rubber dam isolation most commonly used for

• Isolating teeth that needs to be worked on

• Most common for root canals

What follows examination instruments on the tray setup?

Hand (Manual Cutting Instrument)/Tooth Prep Instruments

What follows hand (manual) cutting instruments on the tray setup.

Restorative instruments

What follows restorative instruments on the tray set up.

Accessory instruments/items

Why are mouth mirrors used?

• Retracting of the mouth

• Reflecting light

• Enhanced visibility

• Magnifies hard to reach area views

• Illumination

What are prophy angles (also called prophylaxis angle)

An attachment used for coronal polishing procedures

What is a prophy angle attached to

Low-speed dental handpiece or slow handpiece

Why is dental radiography used in a dental office

• Detects dental decay in early stages

• Identifies bone loss in early stages

• Locates abnormality in surrounding hard and soft tissues

• Evaluates growth and development

• Documents the condition of a patient at a specific time

• Obtains info during a dental procedure

What are some ways operators can protect themselves from radiation exposure

• Radiation monitoring

• Personnel monitoring

• Equipment monitoring

What is an example of personnel monitoring for radiation exposure

Film badge (pocket dosimeter) which measures the amount of occupational exposure

What proper equipment is used to prevent occupational exposure to radiation 

All the answers are correct 

Radiopaque images appear as

White/light gray

Radiolucent images appear as

Black

What are examples of radiopaque images in a radiograph

• Metal

• Enamel

• Dense bone

What are examples of radiolucent images in a radiograph

• Airspace

• Soft tissues

• Dental pulp

Black areas of a radiograph are usually

Airspace

White areas of a radiograph are usually

All the answers are correct

Gray areas of a radiograph are usually

Soft tissue

What is density of a radiograph

The overall blackness of darkness of a film

What are some factors that could affect the density of a radiograph

• Amount of radiation reaching the film

• Distance from x-ray tube to the patient (length of the PID)

• Processing of dental film using conventional film

• Patient’s body size

What is contrast of a radiograph

Images on the radiograph that appear in ranges of black, white, and gray

What are examples of contrast imaging

• Radiopaque images

• Radiolucent images

What agency requires a written privacy policy

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

What is topical anesthesia

local numbing method that deadens nerve endings on the skin's surface by applying a gel, cream, spray, or other form of anesthetic directly to the area

What is local anesthesia

a medication that temporarily blocks pain in a small, specific area of the body by preventing nerves from sending pain signals to the brain

What is infiltration anesthesia

Injects anesthetic solution into the tissue near the apices of the tooth being treated

(smaller surface area)

What is block anesthesia

Injects anesthetic near a larger terminal nerve area, numbing a larger surface area

(larger surface area)

Thumb ring

Finger grip

Finger bar

Barrel of syringe

Piston rod

Harpoon

Threaded tip

What is the first step in loading an anesthetic syringe

Holding the syringe, use the thumb ring to pull back the plunger AND with the other hand, load the anesthetic cartiridge into the syringe

What is the second step in loading an anesthetic syringe

Release the thumb ring and allow the harpoon to engage into the stopper, AND to ensure that the cartridge is in place, shake the syringe

What is the third step in loading an anesthetic syringe

Screw the needle into position on the syringe, AND make sure that it is not in sight of the patient

What does it feel like to have nitrous-oxide in your body

• Aka laughing gas (inhaled through the nose)

• Patient will feel relaxed and help eliminate fear

• Mildly sedative

What drug is most frequently used in an medical emergency

Oxygen (O₂)

When should a lead apron and thyroid collar be used

During dental x-rays (or any situation involving high radiation exposure)

What is a lead collimator

• Used for x-ray machines

• Restricts/controls the size and shape of the x-ray beam as it leaves the tube head

What are potential hazards to radiation exposure

• Tissue damage

• Biologic effects

• Ionization

• Cumulative effects

• Acute and chronic radiation exposure

• Genetic and somatic effects

• Critical organs

How to store a lead apron

Hanging them on a wall mounted rack (or regular rack meant for lead aprons)