DENTAL ASSISTING COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS| LATEST VERSION 2025
1.Amalgam - ANSWER Used for filling cavities due to tooth decay or to repair a
broken tooth (liquid mercury, copper, tin & silver) store in low humidity, well
ventilated at room temperature
2. Alcohol based hand rub - ANSWER •Apply hand rub in palm of hand
•run hands together
•be sure all surfaces of hands and fingers are covered with the rub
•fun until dry on the hands & fingers
3. Abscesses tooth - ANSWER An infection or pus resulting from a bacterial
infection. Occur in the space between the teeth and gums or near the root of the
tooth. Symptoms include swelling, pain, pressure, and severe responses to heat
4. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS - ANSWER An HIV + individual can
remain healthy for many years or develops AIDS with serious illness & infections
5. Adverse drug effect - ANSWER A negative reaction to a drug involving abnormal,
harmful, undesired, or unintended side effects.
6.Acrylic products - ANSWER Used to fabricate temporary fillings, crowns &
bridges
7. Amalgam capsules - ANSWER Single spill: 400mg small
,Double spill: 600mg medium
Triple spill: 800 mg large
8. Alginate - ANSWER The material most commonly used to obtain an impression
as it provides sufficient accuracy for the most study cast and primary models for
orthodontic appliances mouth guards, bleach trays, temporary restorations &
custom trays
9. Alveolar bone - ANSWER Thickened ridge of bone that supports the teeth
10. Avulsions - ANSWER Occur when a tooth is completely knocked out. Caused by
the displacement of tooth from its socket
11. Alginate impression material - ANSWER Creates a gelatin dessert like
impression. This material is used mainly for study models, whitening tray,
preliminary impressions and so on.
12. Avariation method aka 6 handed dentistry - ANSWER 6 handed dentistry
involves using a second chairside assistant, thus adding an additional pair of hands
13. Amalgam condenser - ANSWER Condenses filling material into the tooth
14. Amalgam carrier - ANSWER Used to carry filling material to the prepared tooth
15. ALARA - ANSWER As low as reasonably achievable
,16. Asthma - ANSWER This is a pulmonary disorder whereby a pt airway is
suddenly narrowed. This can cause breathing difficulties, coughing, and wheezing.
17. Bacteria - ANSWER Large group of one celled microorganisms varied in shape
sizes & arrangement
18.Benefits of immunization - ANSWER •Provides the antibodies necessary to
fight off the infection. With artificially acquired immunity, however, there is the
benefit of antibody production without the risk of actually contracting the disease
and the complications that might result.
•through the immunization, you protect yourself and those with whom you might
come into contact from infection. Certain vaccines can also extend life of a
persons expectancy(influenza).
•vaccines also protect against related diseases multiple complications and certain
cancers (cervical & liver)
•cheaper to prevent the disease than it is to treat it.
•if a critical number of people in a community get vaccinated against a particular
disease, the entire population is much less likely to acquire the disease
19. Broken or chipped tooth - ANSWER Anterior (front) teeth are commonly
broken or chipped in diving boards; water faucets; or on steering wheels
20.Boxed of film are labeled with - ANSWER Type of film
Film speed
Film size
Film expiration date
# of packets per packet
, # of films in a box
21. Basic tray setup - ANSWER Mouth mirror
Explorer
Cotton pliers
Periodontal probe
Used for examing the oral cavity and teeth formation
22. Bloodborne pathogens standard BBP - ANSWER Is supported in the cdc
guidelines. They also cover sharps
23.Blood pressure - ANSWER 140/90 or below for adults
118/76 for adolescents
100/66 for children
24. Buccal surface - ANSWER An aspect of dentition, this is the surface of the
tooth closest to the inner cheek
25. Burnisher - ANSWER Smoothes and burnishes the filling material before
hardening and shapes metal matrix bands
26. Buccal - ANSWER Toward the cheek of posterior teeth only
27. Cardiac angina - ANSWER A pt experiences severe chest pain because the
heart muscle is deprived of adequate oxygen
ANSWERS| LATEST VERSION 2025
1.Amalgam - ANSWER Used for filling cavities due to tooth decay or to repair a
broken tooth (liquid mercury, copper, tin & silver) store in low humidity, well
ventilated at room temperature
2. Alcohol based hand rub - ANSWER •Apply hand rub in palm of hand
•run hands together
•be sure all surfaces of hands and fingers are covered with the rub
•fun until dry on the hands & fingers
3. Abscesses tooth - ANSWER An infection or pus resulting from a bacterial
infection. Occur in the space between the teeth and gums or near the root of the
tooth. Symptoms include swelling, pain, pressure, and severe responses to heat
4. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS - ANSWER An HIV + individual can
remain healthy for many years or develops AIDS with serious illness & infections
5. Adverse drug effect - ANSWER A negative reaction to a drug involving abnormal,
harmful, undesired, or unintended side effects.
6.Acrylic products - ANSWER Used to fabricate temporary fillings, crowns &
bridges
7. Amalgam capsules - ANSWER Single spill: 400mg small
,Double spill: 600mg medium
Triple spill: 800 mg large
8. Alginate - ANSWER The material most commonly used to obtain an impression
as it provides sufficient accuracy for the most study cast and primary models for
orthodontic appliances mouth guards, bleach trays, temporary restorations &
custom trays
9. Alveolar bone - ANSWER Thickened ridge of bone that supports the teeth
10. Avulsions - ANSWER Occur when a tooth is completely knocked out. Caused by
the displacement of tooth from its socket
11. Alginate impression material - ANSWER Creates a gelatin dessert like
impression. This material is used mainly for study models, whitening tray,
preliminary impressions and so on.
12. Avariation method aka 6 handed dentistry - ANSWER 6 handed dentistry
involves using a second chairside assistant, thus adding an additional pair of hands
13. Amalgam condenser - ANSWER Condenses filling material into the tooth
14. Amalgam carrier - ANSWER Used to carry filling material to the prepared tooth
15. ALARA - ANSWER As low as reasonably achievable
,16. Asthma - ANSWER This is a pulmonary disorder whereby a pt airway is
suddenly narrowed. This can cause breathing difficulties, coughing, and wheezing.
17. Bacteria - ANSWER Large group of one celled microorganisms varied in shape
sizes & arrangement
18.Benefits of immunization - ANSWER •Provides the antibodies necessary to
fight off the infection. With artificially acquired immunity, however, there is the
benefit of antibody production without the risk of actually contracting the disease
and the complications that might result.
•through the immunization, you protect yourself and those with whom you might
come into contact from infection. Certain vaccines can also extend life of a
persons expectancy(influenza).
•vaccines also protect against related diseases multiple complications and certain
cancers (cervical & liver)
•cheaper to prevent the disease than it is to treat it.
•if a critical number of people in a community get vaccinated against a particular
disease, the entire population is much less likely to acquire the disease
19. Broken or chipped tooth - ANSWER Anterior (front) teeth are commonly
broken or chipped in diving boards; water faucets; or on steering wheels
20.Boxed of film are labeled with - ANSWER Type of film
Film speed
Film size
Film expiration date
# of packets per packet
, # of films in a box
21. Basic tray setup - ANSWER Mouth mirror
Explorer
Cotton pliers
Periodontal probe
Used for examing the oral cavity and teeth formation
22. Bloodborne pathogens standard BBP - ANSWER Is supported in the cdc
guidelines. They also cover sharps
23.Blood pressure - ANSWER 140/90 or below for adults
118/76 for adolescents
100/66 for children
24. Buccal surface - ANSWER An aspect of dentition, this is the surface of the
tooth closest to the inner cheek
25. Burnisher - ANSWER Smoothes and burnishes the filling material before
hardening and shapes metal matrix bands
26. Buccal - ANSWER Toward the cheek of posterior teeth only
27. Cardiac angina - ANSWER A pt experiences severe chest pain because the
heart muscle is deprived of adequate oxygen
