CALIFORNIA RDA LAW & ETHICS FINAL PAPER
2026 TESTED QUESTIONS WITH FULL
SOLUTION GRADED A+
◉ Fiduciary Responsibility. Answer: Holding of something of trust to
another; a relationship based on the trust responsibility between
patient and health care provider.
◉ Amoral. Answer: To be without moral; lacking moral sensitivity;
not caring about right and wrong.
◉ Ethics. Answer: A set of principles of right conduct; the general
nature of morals and the specific moral choices made by a person.
◉ Biennial. Answer: Every two years; license renewal is required
biennially.
◉ Code of ethics. Answer: A collection of rules or guidelines
addressing the ethical standards of a profession of professional
entity.
,◉ Autonomous/autonomy. Answer: Independent; not controlled by
others or outside forces; self-directed; independent in mind and
judgment.
Ex: Patient's are capable of autonomous decision-making and have
the right to determine what should be done with their body.
◉ Battery. Answer: The commission of bodily harm against another;
unlawful touching or striking of another person.
◉ Continuing education. Answer: After receiving a license, licensees
continuing their education, as a condition of license renewal during
the succeeding two-year period; also applies to permit holders.
◉ Character. Answer: A description of a person's attributes, traits
and abilities; the qualities that define a person or a group; could be
used to define moral or ethical strength.
◉ Confidentiality. Answer: That which held I confidence; done or
communicated in secret; the state of trust placed in a dental
assistant by patient so as not to communicate those items which are
privileged
◉ Beneficence. Answer: The state or quality of being kind, charitable
and promoting good will.
,◉ Defamation. Answer: To damage the reputation, character or good
name of another or libel; the making of false statements maliciously.
◉ Nolo Contendere. Answer: Legal term that comes from the Latin
for "I do not wish to contend". It is also referred to as a plea "no
contest"; it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor
disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of guilt or
not guilty.
◉ Licensure Categories (Auxiliaries). Answer: DA- unlicensed dental
assistant
RDA- registered dental assistant
OAP- orthodontic assistance permit holder
DSAP- dental sedation assistance permit holder
RDAEF- registered dental assisting in extended functions
RDH- registered dental hygienist
, RDHEF- registered dental hygienist in extended functions
RDHAP- registered dental hygienist in alternative practice
◉ Impaired Professional. Answer: A professional healthcare
provider who is no longer able to perform fiction in a professional
capacity and with competence; may be impaired by drugs or alcohol.
◉ Implied consent. Answer: By nature of being present in the
treatment facility, it is implied that the patient is seeking treatment;
a dentist may not communicate the full details of the treatment plan
- therfore treatment may being with implied consent without
agreeing in writing or verbally.
◉ Statue. Answer: Otherwise known as laws, established by the
legislature in misdemeanor or felony if violated; dental assisting
duties are in statue.
◉ Direct supervision. Answer: A licensed dentist must be physically
present in the treatment facility during the performance of the
function; the function must be checked and approved by the
supervising dentist prior to dismissal of the patient from the office.
◉ Discrimination. Answer: Treatment or consideration placed on
class or category rather than individual merit; treating persons
2026 TESTED QUESTIONS WITH FULL
SOLUTION GRADED A+
◉ Fiduciary Responsibility. Answer: Holding of something of trust to
another; a relationship based on the trust responsibility between
patient and health care provider.
◉ Amoral. Answer: To be without moral; lacking moral sensitivity;
not caring about right and wrong.
◉ Ethics. Answer: A set of principles of right conduct; the general
nature of morals and the specific moral choices made by a person.
◉ Biennial. Answer: Every two years; license renewal is required
biennially.
◉ Code of ethics. Answer: A collection of rules or guidelines
addressing the ethical standards of a profession of professional
entity.
,◉ Autonomous/autonomy. Answer: Independent; not controlled by
others or outside forces; self-directed; independent in mind and
judgment.
Ex: Patient's are capable of autonomous decision-making and have
the right to determine what should be done with their body.
◉ Battery. Answer: The commission of bodily harm against another;
unlawful touching or striking of another person.
◉ Continuing education. Answer: After receiving a license, licensees
continuing their education, as a condition of license renewal during
the succeeding two-year period; also applies to permit holders.
◉ Character. Answer: A description of a person's attributes, traits
and abilities; the qualities that define a person or a group; could be
used to define moral or ethical strength.
◉ Confidentiality. Answer: That which held I confidence; done or
communicated in secret; the state of trust placed in a dental
assistant by patient so as not to communicate those items which are
privileged
◉ Beneficence. Answer: The state or quality of being kind, charitable
and promoting good will.
,◉ Defamation. Answer: To damage the reputation, character or good
name of another or libel; the making of false statements maliciously.
◉ Nolo Contendere. Answer: Legal term that comes from the Latin
for "I do not wish to contend". It is also referred to as a plea "no
contest"; it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor
disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of guilt or
not guilty.
◉ Licensure Categories (Auxiliaries). Answer: DA- unlicensed dental
assistant
RDA- registered dental assistant
OAP- orthodontic assistance permit holder
DSAP- dental sedation assistance permit holder
RDAEF- registered dental assisting in extended functions
RDH- registered dental hygienist
, RDHEF- registered dental hygienist in extended functions
RDHAP- registered dental hygienist in alternative practice
◉ Impaired Professional. Answer: A professional healthcare
provider who is no longer able to perform fiction in a professional
capacity and with competence; may be impaired by drugs or alcohol.
◉ Implied consent. Answer: By nature of being present in the
treatment facility, it is implied that the patient is seeking treatment;
a dentist may not communicate the full details of the treatment plan
- therfore treatment may being with implied consent without
agreeing in writing or verbally.
◉ Statue. Answer: Otherwise known as laws, established by the
legislature in misdemeanor or felony if violated; dental assisting
duties are in statue.
◉ Direct supervision. Answer: A licensed dentist must be physically
present in the treatment facility during the performance of the
function; the function must be checked and approved by the
supervising dentist prior to dismissal of the patient from the office.
◉ Discrimination. Answer: Treatment or consideration placed on
class or category rather than individual merit; treating persons
