OSCE Dental Hygiene Exams Practice 2025-
2026 Test Guide
1. Dental Hygiene 1. Asses
Process of Care 2. Diagnose
3. Plan
4. Implement
5. Evaluate
6. Document
2. Scope of Practice A dental hygienist is legally bound to provide care within the dental hygiene scope
of practice
3. Standard of care A professional uses the ordinary and reasonable skill that is commonly used
by other reputable dental hygienists when caring for patients; involves prudent
judgement and use of all available resources.
4. Informed Con- Voluntary aflrmation by a patient to allow examination or treatment by authorized
sent dental hygienist or other member of the dental team.
5. Chief Complaints the patients main concern during the health history
6. What data to col- Health history
lect dental history
Intra/oral exam
dental charting
Perio assessment
Radiographs
7. Risk factors for Age
Periodontal dis- oral hygiene
ease tobacco use
any systemic conditions
medications
8.
, OSCE Dental Hygiene Exams Practice 2025-
2026 Test Guide
Perio disease as Heart conditions
a risk factor for Diabetes
systemic condi- Pregnancy complications
tions low birth weight
9. Risk factors for Poor oral hygiene
dental caries prolonged nursing
eating disorders
drug or alcohol abuse
irregular dental care
10. Risk factors for Tobacco
oral cancer Sun exposure
11. Documentation -complete/accurate
-Neat
- IN INK
-right date
-abbreviations standardized
-not contaminated
12. Diagnosis A statement about an actual or potential problem
13. Diagnostic deci- A process involving the ability to collect, analyze, and synthesize data
sion making
14. DH diagnosis -Formal statement of the DH's decision regarding the actual or potential problems
of a patient that can be responsive to treatment through the DH scope of practice.
-Provides the basis fro decisions about dental hygiene tx, evaluation, and referral.
15. Prognosis Prediction of the outcome
16. Caries risk
, OSCE Dental Hygiene Exams Practice 2025-
2026 Test Guide
Low
Moderate
High
17. Active Reevaluate everytime
18. Maintenance NO reevaluation
19. Purpose of Tx -Guides the healthcare provider
plan -Informs the patient
*Patient consent is secured*
20. Preparing DH tx -Medical History (allergies, medications, surgeries/hospitalizations)
plan -Review assessments (I/E oral exam, dental charting, ext)
-DH diagnosis
-Tx prioritized (preventative or therapy?, patients input)
-Tx options (outside factors:cost, time)
-Time
-Re-evaluation
-Recall for maintenance or active
-Cost
-Referral (refer to pt's DDS or specialists)
21. Informed con- -patient agrees to tx plan
sent Signs it in ink, correct date
**patient must understand**
22. Inform patient -describe condition
of: -nature of proposed treatment
-risks and benefits
-failure possibility
-alternative procedures
-pt. legally competent
, OSCE Dental Hygiene Exams Practice 2025-
2026 Test Guide
-pt must be informed
-
23. Informed refusal Document and patient needs to sign
24. Bass Method Most widely used method. Bristles are angled at a 45 degree angel towards the
gingiva.
25. Stillman's Bristles are positioned on the gums rather than into the pockets and directed at
Method a 45 degree angle.
26. Charter's Bristles are directed occlusally, away from the gingiva. Useful for cleaning ortho-
Method dontic brackets, prosthesis, and areas treated with surgeries.
27. Fone's Method Bristles are moved in large circular motion on the buccal and lingual surfaces.
Useful for children, those physically impaired, or adults who lack manual dexterity.
28. Fluoride Varnish -Dries immediately upon contact with saliva.
-Does not require a professional prophylaxis before hand.
-Can eat and drink immediately after.
-Avoid brushing, rigorous rinsing, or hard foods for 3 to 4 hours.
-Easier and more ettective method
29. Fluoride is rec- -Have xerostomia
ommended for -High caries risk
patients who: -Undergoing cancer therapy
-Orthodontics
30. Fluoride Gel or -Applied onto tray and placed in patient's mouth usually for 4 minutes (Read
Foam (office ap- manufactures label).
plication) -Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 30 minutes.
-Most popular types are 1.23% APF and 2% Neutral sodium fluoride.
31.
2026 Test Guide
1. Dental Hygiene 1. Asses
Process of Care 2. Diagnose
3. Plan
4. Implement
5. Evaluate
6. Document
2. Scope of Practice A dental hygienist is legally bound to provide care within the dental hygiene scope
of practice
3. Standard of care A professional uses the ordinary and reasonable skill that is commonly used
by other reputable dental hygienists when caring for patients; involves prudent
judgement and use of all available resources.
4. Informed Con- Voluntary aflrmation by a patient to allow examination or treatment by authorized
sent dental hygienist or other member of the dental team.
5. Chief Complaints the patients main concern during the health history
6. What data to col- Health history
lect dental history
Intra/oral exam
dental charting
Perio assessment
Radiographs
7. Risk factors for Age
Periodontal dis- oral hygiene
ease tobacco use
any systemic conditions
medications
8.
, OSCE Dental Hygiene Exams Practice 2025-
2026 Test Guide
Perio disease as Heart conditions
a risk factor for Diabetes
systemic condi- Pregnancy complications
tions low birth weight
9. Risk factors for Poor oral hygiene
dental caries prolonged nursing
eating disorders
drug or alcohol abuse
irregular dental care
10. Risk factors for Tobacco
oral cancer Sun exposure
11. Documentation -complete/accurate
-Neat
- IN INK
-right date
-abbreviations standardized
-not contaminated
12. Diagnosis A statement about an actual or potential problem
13. Diagnostic deci- A process involving the ability to collect, analyze, and synthesize data
sion making
14. DH diagnosis -Formal statement of the DH's decision regarding the actual or potential problems
of a patient that can be responsive to treatment through the DH scope of practice.
-Provides the basis fro decisions about dental hygiene tx, evaluation, and referral.
15. Prognosis Prediction of the outcome
16. Caries risk
, OSCE Dental Hygiene Exams Practice 2025-
2026 Test Guide
Low
Moderate
High
17. Active Reevaluate everytime
18. Maintenance NO reevaluation
19. Purpose of Tx -Guides the healthcare provider
plan -Informs the patient
*Patient consent is secured*
20. Preparing DH tx -Medical History (allergies, medications, surgeries/hospitalizations)
plan -Review assessments (I/E oral exam, dental charting, ext)
-DH diagnosis
-Tx prioritized (preventative or therapy?, patients input)
-Tx options (outside factors:cost, time)
-Time
-Re-evaluation
-Recall for maintenance or active
-Cost
-Referral (refer to pt's DDS or specialists)
21. Informed con- -patient agrees to tx plan
sent Signs it in ink, correct date
**patient must understand**
22. Inform patient -describe condition
of: -nature of proposed treatment
-risks and benefits
-failure possibility
-alternative procedures
-pt. legally competent
, OSCE Dental Hygiene Exams Practice 2025-
2026 Test Guide
-pt must be informed
-
23. Informed refusal Document and patient needs to sign
24. Bass Method Most widely used method. Bristles are angled at a 45 degree angel towards the
gingiva.
25. Stillman's Bristles are positioned on the gums rather than into the pockets and directed at
Method a 45 degree angle.
26. Charter's Bristles are directed occlusally, away from the gingiva. Useful for cleaning ortho-
Method dontic brackets, prosthesis, and areas treated with surgeries.
27. Fone's Method Bristles are moved in large circular motion on the buccal and lingual surfaces.
Useful for children, those physically impaired, or adults who lack manual dexterity.
28. Fluoride Varnish -Dries immediately upon contact with saliva.
-Does not require a professional prophylaxis before hand.
-Can eat and drink immediately after.
-Avoid brushing, rigorous rinsing, or hard foods for 3 to 4 hours.
-Easier and more ettective method
29. Fluoride is rec- -Have xerostomia
ommended for -High caries risk
patients who: -Undergoing cancer therapy
-Orthodontics
30. Fluoride Gel or -Applied onto tray and placed in patient's mouth usually for 4 minutes (Read
Foam (office ap- manufactures label).
plication) -Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 30 minutes.
-Most popular types are 1.23% APF and 2% Neutral sodium fluoride.
31.
