ILLINOIS DENTAL
ASSISTANT EXAM:
REQUIREMENTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Illinois Regulatory Framework
1. In Illinois, what level of dental assistant requires DANB certification?
A. Level I
B. Level II
C. Level III
D. Level IV
Rationale: Illinois does not require certification for Level I and II dental assistants. Level
III requires DANB certification, and Level IV requires both DANB certification and
expanded function training.
2. What is the minimum age requirement to enroll in an Illinois expanded function
dental assistant course?
A. 16 years
B. 18 years
C. 21 years
D. No age requirement
Rationale: Illinois administrative rules require dental assistants to be at least 18 years of
age to enroll in continuing education courses for expanded functions.
3. How many hours of clinical dental assisting experience are required to enroll in
an Illinois expanded function course (if not a graduate of an accredited program)?
,A. 500 hours
B. 1,000 hours
C. 2,000 hours
D. 3,500 hours
Rationale: Illinois requires 1,000 hours of clinical dental assisting experience, graduation
from a CODA-accredited program, or current DANB certification to enroll in expanded
function courses.
4. Which of the following is NOT an expanded function that a trained Illinois
dental assistant may perform?
A. Coronal polishing
B. Pit and fissure sealants
C. Placing and carving amalgam restorations
D. Removal of calculus from human teeth
Rationale: Removal of calculus from human teeth is specifically excluded from the
dental services a dental assistant may perform under Illinois law. Coronal polishing,
sealants, and amalgam placement are permitted expanded functions.
5. Under Illinois law, a dentist may supervise no more than how many dental
assistants at one time for coronal polishing?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
Rationale: The Illinois Dental Practice Act limits supervision to 4 dental assistants at any
one time for coronal polishing and pit and fissure sealants.
Coronal Polishing
6. What is the minimum didactic hour requirement for an Illinois coronal polishing
course?
A. 2 hours
B. 4 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 8 hours
,Rationale: Illinois requires a 6-hour coronal polishing course consisting of a minimum
of 4 hours of didactic study and 2 hours of clinical instruction.
7. What instrumentation is permitted for coronal polishing by an Illinois dental
assistant?
A. Air polishing
B. Slow-speed rotary instruments with rubber cup or brush
C. Hand instruments only
D. Ultrasonic scaler
Rationale: Coronal polishing is limited to slow-speed rotary instruments using a rubber
cup or brush polishing method. Air polishing is not permitted for dental assistants in
Illinois.
8. Coronal polishing by an Illinois dental assistant is limited to what area?
A. Subgingival root surfaces
B. Supragingival clinical crown and existing restorations
C. Both supragingival and subgingival areas
D. Interproximal areas only
Rationale: Coronal polishing is limited to polishing the clinical crown of the tooth and
existing restorations, supragingivally.
Pit and Fissure Sealants
9. What are the course hour requirements for Illinois dental assistants to apply pit
and fissure sealants?
A. 1 hour didactic and 1 hour clinical
B. 2 hours didactic and 2 hours clinical
C. 4 hours didactic and 4 hours clinical
D. 6 hours total
Rationale: Pit and fissure sealant certification requires at least 2 hours of didactic study
and 2 hours of clinical instruction.
10. Before a dental assistant may place sealants independently, the supervising
dentist must personally observe the assistant successfully placing how many
sealants?
, A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
Rationale: The supervising dentist must personally observe the dental assistant
successfully place 6 pit and fissure sealants before the assistant may place sealants in
accordance with the rules.
Nitrous Oxide Monitoring
11. What is the minimum course hour requirement for an Illinois dental assistant
to monitor nitrous oxide?
A. 4 hours
B. 6 hours (if not previously certified) or 12 hours (original requirement)
C. 8 hours
D. 10 hours
Rationale: A dental assistant who has not completed the original 12-hour course must
complete an approved course totaling 6 hours or more relative to monitoring nitrous
oxide analgesia.
12. Under what supervision condition may a dental assistant monitor nitrous oxide
in Illinois?
A. The dentist may be off-site
B. The dentist must remain in the facility
C. The dentist must be in the treatment room
D. No supervision required
Rationale: The dental assistant monitoring nitrous oxide must function under the
supervision of a dentist who must remain in the facility.
13. Who may administer (start the flow of) nitrous oxide to the patient?
A. The dental assistant
B. Only a qualified dentist or dental hygienist
C. Any trained staff member
D. The patient may self-administer
ASSISTANT EXAM:
REQUIREMENTS AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Illinois Regulatory Framework
1. In Illinois, what level of dental assistant requires DANB certification?
A. Level I
B. Level II
C. Level III
D. Level IV
Rationale: Illinois does not require certification for Level I and II dental assistants. Level
III requires DANB certification, and Level IV requires both DANB certification and
expanded function training.
2. What is the minimum age requirement to enroll in an Illinois expanded function
dental assistant course?
A. 16 years
B. 18 years
C. 21 years
D. No age requirement
Rationale: Illinois administrative rules require dental assistants to be at least 18 years of
age to enroll in continuing education courses for expanded functions.
3. How many hours of clinical dental assisting experience are required to enroll in
an Illinois expanded function course (if not a graduate of an accredited program)?
,A. 500 hours
B. 1,000 hours
C. 2,000 hours
D. 3,500 hours
Rationale: Illinois requires 1,000 hours of clinical dental assisting experience, graduation
from a CODA-accredited program, or current DANB certification to enroll in expanded
function courses.
4. Which of the following is NOT an expanded function that a trained Illinois
dental assistant may perform?
A. Coronal polishing
B. Pit and fissure sealants
C. Placing and carving amalgam restorations
D. Removal of calculus from human teeth
Rationale: Removal of calculus from human teeth is specifically excluded from the
dental services a dental assistant may perform under Illinois law. Coronal polishing,
sealants, and amalgam placement are permitted expanded functions.
5. Under Illinois law, a dentist may supervise no more than how many dental
assistants at one time for coronal polishing?
A. 2
B. 3
C. 4
D. 5
Rationale: The Illinois Dental Practice Act limits supervision to 4 dental assistants at any
one time for coronal polishing and pit and fissure sealants.
Coronal Polishing
6. What is the minimum didactic hour requirement for an Illinois coronal polishing
course?
A. 2 hours
B. 4 hours
C. 6 hours
D. 8 hours
,Rationale: Illinois requires a 6-hour coronal polishing course consisting of a minimum
of 4 hours of didactic study and 2 hours of clinical instruction.
7. What instrumentation is permitted for coronal polishing by an Illinois dental
assistant?
A. Air polishing
B. Slow-speed rotary instruments with rubber cup or brush
C. Hand instruments only
D. Ultrasonic scaler
Rationale: Coronal polishing is limited to slow-speed rotary instruments using a rubber
cup or brush polishing method. Air polishing is not permitted for dental assistants in
Illinois.
8. Coronal polishing by an Illinois dental assistant is limited to what area?
A. Subgingival root surfaces
B. Supragingival clinical crown and existing restorations
C. Both supragingival and subgingival areas
D. Interproximal areas only
Rationale: Coronal polishing is limited to polishing the clinical crown of the tooth and
existing restorations, supragingivally.
Pit and Fissure Sealants
9. What are the course hour requirements for Illinois dental assistants to apply pit
and fissure sealants?
A. 1 hour didactic and 1 hour clinical
B. 2 hours didactic and 2 hours clinical
C. 4 hours didactic and 4 hours clinical
D. 6 hours total
Rationale: Pit and fissure sealant certification requires at least 2 hours of didactic study
and 2 hours of clinical instruction.
10. Before a dental assistant may place sealants independently, the supervising
dentist must personally observe the assistant successfully placing how many
sealants?
, A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
Rationale: The supervising dentist must personally observe the dental assistant
successfully place 6 pit and fissure sealants before the assistant may place sealants in
accordance with the rules.
Nitrous Oxide Monitoring
11. What is the minimum course hour requirement for an Illinois dental assistant
to monitor nitrous oxide?
A. 4 hours
B. 6 hours (if not previously certified) or 12 hours (original requirement)
C. 8 hours
D. 10 hours
Rationale: A dental assistant who has not completed the original 12-hour course must
complete an approved course totaling 6 hours or more relative to monitoring nitrous
oxide analgesia.
12. Under what supervision condition may a dental assistant monitor nitrous oxide
in Illinois?
A. The dentist may be off-site
B. The dentist must remain in the facility
C. The dentist must be in the treatment room
D. No supervision required
Rationale: The dental assistant monitoring nitrous oxide must function under the
supervision of a dentist who must remain in the facility.
13. Who may administer (start the flow of) nitrous oxide to the patient?
A. The dental assistant
B. Only a qualified dentist or dental hygienist
C. Any trained staff member
D. The patient may self-administer
