Dental Assisting: ICE Exam

If you opt not to receive a hepatitis B vaccination and have signed a waiver to this effect, you have the right to what?

Change your mind and the employer is required to provide the vaccination

All dental professionals must use surgical masks and protective eyewear to protect the eyes and face from what?

Whenever spatter and aerosolized sprays of blood and saliva are likely

All dental assistants involved in the direct provision of patient care must undergo routine training in what?

Infection control, safety issues, and hazard communication

When immunity is present at birth, it is referred to as what?

Inherited Immunity

What immunity occurs when a vaccination is administered and the body forms antibodies in response to the vaccine?

Active Artificial

A chronic infection is best exemplified by what?

Hepatitis C virus

What exemplifies an acute infection?

A common cold

Microorganisms that produce disease in humans are known as what?

Pathogens

Bacteria can be identified by shape. What is the shape of bacteria?

Spherical (cocci), rod (bacilli), and spiral (spirochetes)

An infection that results from a defective immune system that cannot defend against pathogens normally found in the environment is an what?

An opportunistic infection

A disease that can be transmitted in some way from the host to another is an what?

An infectious disease, a communicable disease, and a contagious disease

The transmission of a disease to a susceptible person by handling contaminated instruments or by touching contaminated surfaces is referred to as what?

Indirect transmission

What is considered to be the best method for determining whether there is proper sterilization function of a sterilizer?

A biological spore test through a monitoring system

When the assistant prepares a package of a hazardous infectious waste for disposal, what should be considered?

All infectious waste destined for disposal should be placed in a closable, leak-proof container or bag that is color-coded or labeled appropriately

What is the PPE that is removed first after the completion of a clinical procedure?

The gown

Exam gloves used during dental treatment can be made of what?

Latex or Vinyl

Infectious or regulated waste (biohazard) includes what?

Blood and blood-soaked materials, pathologic waste, and sharps

Infectious or regulated waste (biohazard) does not include what?

Used barriers

What is true regarding the use of overgloves?

Overgloves must be worn carefully to avoid contamination during handling with contamination procedure gloves. Overgloves are placed before the secondary procedure is preformed and are removed before patient treatment is resumed. Overgloves are discarded after a single use.

What is not true regarding the use of overgloves?

Overgloves are acceptable alone as a hand barrier in nonsurgical procedures

During what procedure would you use sterile surgical gloves?

A periodontal surgery

The most common route of disease transmission in the dental office is through what?

Direct contact with the patient's blood or saliva

The strength of an organism in its ability to produce disease is called what?

Virulence

The use of a preprocedural mouth rinse can lower the number of microorganisms that may escape a patient's mouth through aerosols, spatter, and direct contact, but not through what?

Indirect contact

What is the mode of disease transmission that involves large-particle droplet spatter?

Droplet infection

What mode of disease transmission involves minute particles that can remain in the air for hours and can be inhaled?

Aerosol infection

Pathogens that are carried in the blood and body fluids of infected individuals and that can be transmitted to others are referred to as what?

Bloodborne

Recommendations concerning gloves would fall under what category of infection control practices that directly relate to dental radiography procedures?

Protective attire and barrier techniques

Protective clothing must do what?

Prevent skin exposure when in contact with blood or other bodily fluids is anticipated and prevent mucous membrane exposure when contact with blood or other bodily fluids is anticipated

When using medical latex or vinyl gloves, what is recommended?

Nonsterile gloves are recommended for examinations and nonsurgical procedures

What is defined as the absence of pathogens, or disease-causing microorganisms?

Asepsis

Antiseptic is what?

A substance that inhibits the growth of bacteria

While taking a patient's health history, it is noted that there is a history of tuberculosis and the patient is currently experiencing symptoms of this disease. What is an appropriate action in the office?

The patient should be referred promptly fro medical evaluation of possible infectiousness. Defer elective treatment until a physician confirms that the patient does not have infectious tuberculosis. If urgent dental care must be provided for the patient, and it is determined there is an infectious tuberculosis, obtain care that can be provided in a tuberculosis isolation center.

While taking a patient's health history, it is noted that there is a history of tuberculosis and the patient is currently experiencing symptoms of this disease. What is not an appropriate action in the office?

Tell the patient you will not be able to treat him or her anymore

When a liquid sterilant/high-level disinfectant achieve sterilization?

Sterilization will occur when the solution is used only for the longer exposure times

What may be used for surface disinfecting in the dental office?

Idophors

Before dental x-ray films are exposed, the treatment area must be prepared using what?

Aseptic Techniques

Manufacturers of sterilizers (autoclaves) set them to reach a maximum steam temperature of ___ degrees Fahrenheit and pressure of ___ pounds per square inch (psi).

250, 15 to 30

According to CDC guidelines when transporting a biopsy specimen it should be what?

Placed in a sturdy, leakproof container labeled with a biohazard symbol

Instruments must be absolutely dry or they will rust or have an ash layer when using what type of sterilization process?

Chemical vapor

What is considered to be a semicritical instrument in radiography?

X-ray film holding device

What is true concerning cleaning and disinfecting the dental unit and environmental surfaces?

An intermediate-level disinfectant is recommended

What method of sterilization requires good ventilation?

Unsaturated chemical vapor

In what method of sterilization does the exposure time vary depending of if the instruments are wrapped or unwrapped?

Flash sterilization

What is the best procedure for caring for an explorer and a pair of crown and collar scissors?

Steam under pressure with emulsion

What is the best procedure for caring for a mouth mirror and for a handpiece?

Steam under pressure without emulsion

What is the best procedure for caring for a saliva ejector?

Discard

What is the best procedure for caring for a contaminated needle?

Sharp's container

What is the best procedure for caring for a pair of protective glasses and for medicament bottles?

Spray/wipe/spray or wipe/wipe with surface disinfectant

What type of sterilization used in the dental office requires the highest temperature?

Dry heat sterilization

Immersion in a chemical liquid sterilant requires at least how many hours of contact time?

10

What is not a recommended method for sterilizing dental handpieces?

Chemical liquid sterilant

The ideal instrument processing area should be what?

Dedicated only to instrument processing

There are areas of the instrument processing facility that govern the workflow pattern. The process should flow in a single loop from what?

Dirty, to clean, to sterile, to storage

The purpose of a holding solution is to what?

Prevent the drying of blood and debris on instruments

What is the least desirable method of precleaning dental instruments?

Hand scrubbing

The ultrasonic cleaner should be cleaned and disinfected when? After instruments have completed the cleaning cycle of the ultrasonic cleaner, they should be what?

At least once a day or when it becomes cloudy and rinsed with clear water

What does the ultrasonic cleaner do?

Cleans and removes debris

Why is it important to keep an MSDS or SDS for the liquid sterilant (ex. glutaraldehyde) on file?

It provides information on how to protect against exposure to a chemical and what to do if an exposure occurs

The process that kills disease-causing microorganisms, but necessarily all microbial life, is called what?

Disinfection

Spores of Bacillus atrophaeus are used to monitor what type of sterilizer?

Dry heat

Patient care instruments are categorized into various classifications. Into what classification would instruments such as surgical forceps, scalpels, bone chisels, and scalers be placed into?

Critical

What dental related disease is there not a vaccine for?

Hepatitis C virus or strep throat

What is not a common method of heat sterilization used in the dental office?

Hot water sterilization

Legionella bacteria can cause what type of disease in a susceptible person?

Pneumonia

Nosocomial infections are commonly acquired in what?

A hospital or other medical facilities

According to OSHA, the dental assistant may do what prior to depositing a contaminated needle in a designated puncture-resistant container?

Recap it

OSHA requires a minimum of training of dental personnel in all areas except for what?

Specialty safety standards

The goal of a sound infection control program is to reduce cross-contamination from all areas except for what?

The community health program to the dental practice

What is true as it relates to the environmental infection control in a clinical area?

Avoid the use of carpet and cloth-upholstered furnishings

The Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures (OSAP) identifies the classification of clinical touch surfaces to include what?

Light handles, dental unit controls, and chair switches

What is not an acceptable method of preventing surface contamination?

Wipe the surface with alcohol

What are standard precautions?

The concept that considers that blood and all patient body fluids are potentially infectious

The best time to clean and disinfect a dental prosthesis or impression that will be processed in the office laboratory is when?

As soon as possible after removal from the patient's mouth

A victim who feels the effects of a chemical spill immediately, with symptoms of dizziness, headache, nausea, and vomiting, is experiencing what?

Acute chemical toxicity

What is considered to be regulated waste and requires special disposal?

Human tissue

Repeated exposure to chemicals at low levels for extended periods of time can result in liver disease or brain disorders which would be examples of what?

Chronic chemical toxicity

How often should the dental assistant or office safety supervisor check the contents of the emergency kit to determine that the contents are in place and within the expiration date?

Monthly

The floor in the entry to the dental office was wet. A patient slipped on the floor during the entry to the office. There was no signage to include a potential slippery floor. Who is responsible for this?

The office owner is responsible for providing signage for potential dangerous situations

Wastes are classified as hazardous if they are what?

Ignitable

All waste containers that hold potentially infectious materials must be what?

Labeled with the biohazard symbol

Scrap dental amalgam should be collected and stored in what?

A designated, dry, and air tight container

What government agency enforces the disposal of regulated waste?

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The OSHA Hazard Communications Standard requires employers to do what?

Tell employees about the identity and hazards of chemicals in the workplace, implement a hazard communication program, and maintain accurate and through MSDS records

What is the dental staff required to have available and know the location of in the event of a heart attack or closed or blocked airway?

Oxygen

Hazard communication training must include what?

Hazards of chemicals and proper handling of chemicals, the availability and access of the MSDS to all staff, and an explanation of the labeling of hazardous chemicals

A dental healthcare worker transfers a small amount of a ionomer cement into a smaller container for use on a patient at chairside. A new label must be placed on the container if what?

The chemical material is not used up at the conclusion of an 8-hour work shift

Hazard communication training must be provided when?

For all new employees at the beginning of employment and annually

When recapping a needle, the dental assistant should not do what?

Use the two-handed scoop method for maximum control

What is not considered to be a sharp?

Metal matrix retainer

What is not a main concern as a microorganism in the dental unit water line?

Lactobacillus

The ADA, OSAP, and CDC recommend that the dental assistant do what with the waterlines?

Flush the dental unit waterlines for 30 seconds each morning and between patients

Shortly after donning the required PPE, the dental healthcare worker notices the following symptoms: watering eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and even dizziness. What type of reaction may the person be having?

Intermediate hypersensitivity (type 1)

What are the recommended five parts of the Hazard Communication Standard?

Written program, inventory of hazardous chemicals, MSDS for every chemical, proper labeling of containers, and employee training

What is not true regarding HIV?

HIV is transmitted through casual contact

Switching to instruments with large, round diameters and contra-angled shanks, may do what to the symptoms associated with carpal tunnel syndrome?

Help reduce

What should not be practiced during the use of nitrous oxide during conscious sedation?

Maintaining conversation with the patient

Distillation of water is a what process that may remove volatile chemicals, endotoxins, and some microorganisms?

Purification

What is not true regarding the use of biohazard warning labels?

White or green bags may be substituted for labels

OSHA requires the use of standard precautions for whom?

All patients