IOWA DENTAL BOARD CORE EXAM 2026 TEST QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔What is shown on periapical films? - ✔✔The entire too and surrouding structures
✔✔What film sizes and numbers are typically used for a full mouth survey? - ✔✔14
periapical: 4 molar & 4 premolar with size 2; 4 cuspid & 2 midline with size 1 or 2
2-4 bitewings: 2 molar & 2 premolar with size 2 or 2 molar/premolar with size 2
✔✔How is the premolar film positioned? - ✔✔Premolar can be positioned horizontal or
verical
✔✔When placing films, what is included in the view? - ✔✔The distal of the tooth in front
of the area of interest
✔✔What is the relationship of the film and tooth in the paralleling technique? - ✔✔The
film and tooth are parallel
Film is away from the tooth
✔✔Where is the PID placed in the paralleling technique? - ✔✔Parallel to the aiming ring
✔✔Before placing films in the patient's mouth, what should you do? - ✔✔Set exposure
variables
Explain purpose of films and technique
Explain where patient should bite on holder
✔✔When positioning films in the patient's mouth, where is the biteblock located? -
✔✔Against the occlusal of incisal of the teeth being exposed
✔✔Why is the patient instructed to close just enough to stabilize the film holder? -
✔✔Over closing can cause the film to bend
✔✔For mandibular exposures, where is the film placed? - ✔✔Between the tongue and
the teeth
✔✔How do you determine if a film is diagnostically acceptable? - ✔✔Shows tooth and
surrounding area
Proper density, contrast, and defininition
✔✔What film sizes can be used for interproximal exposures? - ✔✔0,1,2, or 3
✔✔If you are exposing one bitewing on each side, where is the film placed? Where is
the PID placed? - ✔✔Center behind teeth to include the distal of the cuspid
, Horizontal position of PID: CR goes between the embrasure of the 2nd premolar and
1st molar
Vertical angulation +10 degrees
✔✔How should the patient bite for anterior bitewings? - ✔✔Edge-to-edge
✔✔When using bitetabs, how should the patient be positioned? - ✔✔Upright with the
midsagittal plane perpendicular to the floor and the occlusal plane parallel to the floor
✔✔What is the horizontal angulation for the three types of bitewing exposures? -
✔✔Premolar bitewing: CR to the space between the 1st and 2nd premolar
Molar bitewing: CR to the space between the 1st and 2nd molar
Molar/Premolar bitewing: CR to the space between the 2nd premolar and the 1st molar
✔✔What are the facial landmarks for each type of bitewing exposure? - ✔✔Premolar
bitwing: line down midway between the outer canthus and the pupil even with the
occlusal plane
Molar Bitewing: line down from outer canthus even with occlusal plane
Molar/premolar bitewing: line down from 1/4 inch anterior to the outer canthus even with
the occlusal plane
✔✔What is the vertical angulation for bitewings? - ✔✔+10 degrees
✔✔What is seen on panoramic films? - ✔✔Both arches and surrounding areas
✔✔What is shown on occlusal films? - ✔✔Large areas of one jaw on a single film
✔✔How is the patient positioned for panoramic exposures? - ✔✔According to the
manufacturer's directions to line up the patient with the x-ray source
✔✔Why isn't the protective collar used during panoramic exposures? - ✔✔Because it
would be in the bath of the x-ray beam
✔✔How should you prepare the patient for panoramic exposures? - ✔✔Explain the
purpose and the technique
Tell the patient that the equipment will move, but to remain still
✔✔What are cephalometric films used for? - ✔✔Evaluate facial growth and
development; show trauma, disease, developing abnormalities; Used by orthodontists,
prosthodontists, and oral surgeons
✔✔Name the views shown in a typical TMJ series. - ✔✔Shows six views of the TMJ,
usually on one film
Right side; at rest, closed, fully open
AND ANSWERS SCORED A+
✔✔What is shown on periapical films? - ✔✔The entire too and surrouding structures
✔✔What film sizes and numbers are typically used for a full mouth survey? - ✔✔14
periapical: 4 molar & 4 premolar with size 2; 4 cuspid & 2 midline with size 1 or 2
2-4 bitewings: 2 molar & 2 premolar with size 2 or 2 molar/premolar with size 2
✔✔How is the premolar film positioned? - ✔✔Premolar can be positioned horizontal or
verical
✔✔When placing films, what is included in the view? - ✔✔The distal of the tooth in front
of the area of interest
✔✔What is the relationship of the film and tooth in the paralleling technique? - ✔✔The
film and tooth are parallel
Film is away from the tooth
✔✔Where is the PID placed in the paralleling technique? - ✔✔Parallel to the aiming ring
✔✔Before placing films in the patient's mouth, what should you do? - ✔✔Set exposure
variables
Explain purpose of films and technique
Explain where patient should bite on holder
✔✔When positioning films in the patient's mouth, where is the biteblock located? -
✔✔Against the occlusal of incisal of the teeth being exposed
✔✔Why is the patient instructed to close just enough to stabilize the film holder? -
✔✔Over closing can cause the film to bend
✔✔For mandibular exposures, where is the film placed? - ✔✔Between the tongue and
the teeth
✔✔How do you determine if a film is diagnostically acceptable? - ✔✔Shows tooth and
surrounding area
Proper density, contrast, and defininition
✔✔What film sizes can be used for interproximal exposures? - ✔✔0,1,2, or 3
✔✔If you are exposing one bitewing on each side, where is the film placed? Where is
the PID placed? - ✔✔Center behind teeth to include the distal of the cuspid
, Horizontal position of PID: CR goes between the embrasure of the 2nd premolar and
1st molar
Vertical angulation +10 degrees
✔✔How should the patient bite for anterior bitewings? - ✔✔Edge-to-edge
✔✔When using bitetabs, how should the patient be positioned? - ✔✔Upright with the
midsagittal plane perpendicular to the floor and the occlusal plane parallel to the floor
✔✔What is the horizontal angulation for the three types of bitewing exposures? -
✔✔Premolar bitewing: CR to the space between the 1st and 2nd premolar
Molar bitewing: CR to the space between the 1st and 2nd molar
Molar/Premolar bitewing: CR to the space between the 2nd premolar and the 1st molar
✔✔What are the facial landmarks for each type of bitewing exposure? - ✔✔Premolar
bitwing: line down midway between the outer canthus and the pupil even with the
occlusal plane
Molar Bitewing: line down from outer canthus even with occlusal plane
Molar/premolar bitewing: line down from 1/4 inch anterior to the outer canthus even with
the occlusal plane
✔✔What is the vertical angulation for bitewings? - ✔✔+10 degrees
✔✔What is seen on panoramic films? - ✔✔Both arches and surrounding areas
✔✔What is shown on occlusal films? - ✔✔Large areas of one jaw on a single film
✔✔How is the patient positioned for panoramic exposures? - ✔✔According to the
manufacturer's directions to line up the patient with the x-ray source
✔✔Why isn't the protective collar used during panoramic exposures? - ✔✔Because it
would be in the bath of the x-ray beam
✔✔How should you prepare the patient for panoramic exposures? - ✔✔Explain the
purpose and the technique
Tell the patient that the equipment will move, but to remain still
✔✔What are cephalometric films used for? - ✔✔Evaluate facial growth and
development; show trauma, disease, developing abnormalities; Used by orthodontists,
prosthodontists, and oral surgeons
✔✔Name the views shown in a typical TMJ series. - ✔✔Shows six views of the TMJ,
usually on one film
Right side; at rest, closed, fully open
