CDA Board Exam Questions and
Answers 2026\2027 update
Which of the following would require the dental assistant to place topical anesthetic at
the mental foramen prior to the local anesthetic injection?
A. Incisive Nerve Block
B. Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block
C. Nasopalatine Nerve Block
D. Buccal Nerve Block correct answers A. Incisive Nerve Block
Which of the following ratios provides the HIGHEST percentage of vasoconstrictor to
local anesthetic? A. 1 : 100,000
B. 1 : 200,000
C. 1 : 50,000
D. 1 : 20,000 correct answers D. 1 : 20,000
Which of the following best describes the proper stroke that the dental assistant should
use when performing coronal polishing?
A. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup from the gingival third toward the
incisal third of the tooth.
B. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup from the incisal third toward the
gingival third of the tooth.
C. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup from the distal third toward the
mesial third of the tooth.
D. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup from the mesial third toward the
distal third of the tooth. correct answers A. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup
from the gingival third toward the incisal third of the tooth.
When trimming the suture after it has been tied off, how far from the knot should the
dental assistant trim?
,A. 4-5 mm
B. 0-1 mm
C. 2-3 mm
D. 3-4 mm correct answers C. 2-3 mm
To aid in the osseointegration process of an implant, the implant may be coated with A.
glycerin gel.
B. parachlorophenol.
C. hydroxyapatite.
D. gutta percha. correct answers C. Hydroxyapatite
Which of the following would MOST LIKELY be selected to place retention grooves
within a cavity preparation?
A. 557 bur
B. 35 bur
C. 8 bur
D. 169 bur correct answers B. 35 Bur
Which of the following instrument grasps will the dentist utilize when holding #151
extraction forceps?
A. A palm-thumb grasp
B. A pen grasp
C. A palm grasp
D. A reverse palm-thumb grasp correct answers C. A palm grasp
The dental assistant is taking a final impression for a maxillary denture. Which of the
following anatomical landmarks does NOT need to be included?
,A. Post dam
B. Frenum attachments
C. Hamular notches
D. Genial tubercles correct answers D. Genial tubercles
When assisting in a Class III or IV composite restorative procedure, what is the best type
of matrix that should be used?
A. Auto matrix
B. Clear matrix
C. Universal retainer
D. T-band correct answers B. Clear Matrix
When curing a composite, the curing light tip should be held at a A.
45-degree angle to the tooth.
B. 90-degree angle to the tooth.
C. 10-degree angle to the tooth.
D. 20-degree angle to the tooth. correct answers B. 90-degree angle held to the tooth
Which of the following charting symbols indicates that tooth #16 is impacted? A.
Tooth #16 has a blue "X" marked through the tooth.
B. Tooth #16 has the canal area filled in with blue.
C. Tooth #16 has a red jagged line through the root.
D. Tooth #16 has a red circle around the entire tooth. correct answers D. Tooth #16 has
a red circle around the entire tooth.
When evaluating a patient's bite, which of the following describes the sliding of the
mandible to the left or right?
A. Retrusion
, B. Protrusion
C. Centric relation
D. Lateral excursion correct answers D. Lateral excursion
Which of the following materials would be used in treating alveolar osteitis (dry socket)?
A. Iodoform gauze
B. Formocresol
C. Sodium hypochlorite
D. Cold-cured acrylic correct answers A. Iodoform gauze
All of the following are necessary armamentarium for determining jaw relationship
EXCEPT
A. sutures.
B. baseplate wax.
C. face bow assembly.
D. sharp lab knife. correct answers A. Sutures
Which of the following parts of the Tofflemire retainer is adjusted in order to increase or
decrease the size of the matrix band loop?
A. Inner knob
B. Spindle
C. Outer knob
D. Diagonal slot correct answers A. Inner knob
Which instrument is used to check the occlusion when the procedure is complete?
A. Tofflemier
B. Articulating holder and paper
C. Spatula
D. Cotton rolls correct answers B. Articulating holder and paper
Which of the following implants is used MOST FREQUENTLY to support a mandibular
complete denture?
Answers 2026\2027 update
Which of the following would require the dental assistant to place topical anesthetic at
the mental foramen prior to the local anesthetic injection?
A. Incisive Nerve Block
B. Inferior Alveolar Nerve Block
C. Nasopalatine Nerve Block
D. Buccal Nerve Block correct answers A. Incisive Nerve Block
Which of the following ratios provides the HIGHEST percentage of vasoconstrictor to
local anesthetic? A. 1 : 100,000
B. 1 : 200,000
C. 1 : 50,000
D. 1 : 20,000 correct answers D. 1 : 20,000
Which of the following best describes the proper stroke that the dental assistant should
use when performing coronal polishing?
A. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup from the gingival third toward the
incisal third of the tooth.
B. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup from the incisal third toward the
gingival third of the tooth.
C. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup from the distal third toward the
mesial third of the tooth.
D. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup from the mesial third toward the
distal third of the tooth. correct answers A. The assistant should stroke the polishing cup
from the gingival third toward the incisal third of the tooth.
When trimming the suture after it has been tied off, how far from the knot should the
dental assistant trim?
,A. 4-5 mm
B. 0-1 mm
C. 2-3 mm
D. 3-4 mm correct answers C. 2-3 mm
To aid in the osseointegration process of an implant, the implant may be coated with A.
glycerin gel.
B. parachlorophenol.
C. hydroxyapatite.
D. gutta percha. correct answers C. Hydroxyapatite
Which of the following would MOST LIKELY be selected to place retention grooves
within a cavity preparation?
A. 557 bur
B. 35 bur
C. 8 bur
D. 169 bur correct answers B. 35 Bur
Which of the following instrument grasps will the dentist utilize when holding #151
extraction forceps?
A. A palm-thumb grasp
B. A pen grasp
C. A palm grasp
D. A reverse palm-thumb grasp correct answers C. A palm grasp
The dental assistant is taking a final impression for a maxillary denture. Which of the
following anatomical landmarks does NOT need to be included?
,A. Post dam
B. Frenum attachments
C. Hamular notches
D. Genial tubercles correct answers D. Genial tubercles
When assisting in a Class III or IV composite restorative procedure, what is the best type
of matrix that should be used?
A. Auto matrix
B. Clear matrix
C. Universal retainer
D. T-band correct answers B. Clear Matrix
When curing a composite, the curing light tip should be held at a A.
45-degree angle to the tooth.
B. 90-degree angle to the tooth.
C. 10-degree angle to the tooth.
D. 20-degree angle to the tooth. correct answers B. 90-degree angle held to the tooth
Which of the following charting symbols indicates that tooth #16 is impacted? A.
Tooth #16 has a blue "X" marked through the tooth.
B. Tooth #16 has the canal area filled in with blue.
C. Tooth #16 has a red jagged line through the root.
D. Tooth #16 has a red circle around the entire tooth. correct answers D. Tooth #16 has
a red circle around the entire tooth.
When evaluating a patient's bite, which of the following describes the sliding of the
mandible to the left or right?
A. Retrusion
, B. Protrusion
C. Centric relation
D. Lateral excursion correct answers D. Lateral excursion
Which of the following materials would be used in treating alveolar osteitis (dry socket)?
A. Iodoform gauze
B. Formocresol
C. Sodium hypochlorite
D. Cold-cured acrylic correct answers A. Iodoform gauze
All of the following are necessary armamentarium for determining jaw relationship
EXCEPT
A. sutures.
B. baseplate wax.
C. face bow assembly.
D. sharp lab knife. correct answers A. Sutures
Which of the following parts of the Tofflemire retainer is adjusted in order to increase or
decrease the size of the matrix band loop?
A. Inner knob
B. Spindle
C. Outer knob
D. Diagonal slot correct answers A. Inner knob
Which instrument is used to check the occlusion when the procedure is complete?
A. Tofflemier
B. Articulating holder and paper
C. Spatula
D. Cotton rolls correct answers B. Articulating holder and paper
Which of the following implants is used MOST FREQUENTLY to support a mandibular
complete denture?
