DENTAL LAWS AND INFECTION CONTROL EXAM MANUAL
2025 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Which mode of disease transmission can occur if a dental assistant fails to wear
examination gloves when taking an alginate impression? - ✔✔Direct
✔✔Which mode of disease transmission can occur if a dental assistant fails to wear a
mask when assisting a dentist using a high-speed handpiece? - ✔✔Airborne
✔✔Which mode of disease transmission can occur if a dental assistant fails to properly
sterilize contaminated dental instruments? - ✔✔Vehicle
✔✔Which is a single-use disposable item? - ✔✔Saliva ejector
✔✔Which item would not have a surface barrier placed to lessen the need for surface
disinfectant? - ✔✔Instrument cassette
✔✔Which term is defined as an inanimate object that can harbor pathogens? -
✔✔Fomite
✔✔Which could transmit disease via droplet? - ✔✔Sneezing
✔✔Which term is defined as the strength of a pathogen to cause disease? -
✔✔Virulence
✔✔Which type of disease transmission occurs if a dental chart is handled by a dental
assistant while wearing contaminated gloves then handed to the business assistant? -
✔✔Indirect
✔✔Which term is defined as items that penetrate soft tissue and come in direct contact
with bone, blood, and other body fluids? - ✔✔Critical items
✔✔Which is an example of a noncritical item in instrument and sterilization? - ✔✔Blood
pressure cuff
✔✔Which is an example of a semicritical item in instrument processing and
sterilization? - ✔✔Dental mouth mirror
✔✔Which is classified as regulated waste in the dental office? - ✔✔Endodontic file
✔✔Which is classified as nonregulated waste in the dental office? - ✔✔Surface barrier
, ✔✔The most accurate way to ensure that proper sterilization of instruments has
occurred is to _____. - ✔✔Use biologic indicators
✔✔Which sterilizes instruments in a steam autoclave (pictured)? - ✔✔Heat
✔✔Which type of sterilization used in the dental office requires the highest
temperature? - ✔✔Dry heat
✔✔How much time is required for sterilization to occur when using a chemical liquid
sterilization process for heat-sensitive instruments? - ✔✔10 hours
✔✔Which can occur if wet dental instrument packages are removed from the autoclave
before the drying cycle is completed? - ✔✔Wicking
✔✔The solution in the ultrasonic cleaner should be replaced at least _____? - ✔✔Once
a day
✔✔Which type of gloves are worn during instrument processing? - ✔✔Utility gloves
✔✔A small sheet of _____ can be submerged in the ultrasonic unit to determine
whether the ultrasonic cleaner is working properly. - ✔✔Aluminum foil
✔✔Which is the process that is initiated in the ultrasonic cleaner when sound waves are
produced> - ✔✔Cavitation
✔✔Which term refers to the blood, saliva, and tissue fluids that contaminate dental
instruments after use? - ✔✔Bioburden
✔✔Which sterilization technique may rust non-stainless steel instruments and burs? -
✔✔Steam autoclave
✔✔Which type of sterilization monitoring technique is a multiparameter indicator of the
sterilization process? - ✔✔Process intergrator
✔✔Which is the purpose of placing contaminated dental instruments in a presoaking
solution? - ✔✔Prevents debris from drying on the instruments
✔✔Which is not an item of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is worn during the
manual scrubbing of contaminated dental instruments? - ✔✔Dosimeter
✔✔Which area of the instruments processing center can contain both contaminated and
sterilized instruments? - ✔✔Sterilization area
2025 QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS RATED A+
✔✔Which mode of disease transmission can occur if a dental assistant fails to wear
examination gloves when taking an alginate impression? - ✔✔Direct
✔✔Which mode of disease transmission can occur if a dental assistant fails to wear a
mask when assisting a dentist using a high-speed handpiece? - ✔✔Airborne
✔✔Which mode of disease transmission can occur if a dental assistant fails to properly
sterilize contaminated dental instruments? - ✔✔Vehicle
✔✔Which is a single-use disposable item? - ✔✔Saliva ejector
✔✔Which item would not have a surface barrier placed to lessen the need for surface
disinfectant? - ✔✔Instrument cassette
✔✔Which term is defined as an inanimate object that can harbor pathogens? -
✔✔Fomite
✔✔Which could transmit disease via droplet? - ✔✔Sneezing
✔✔Which term is defined as the strength of a pathogen to cause disease? -
✔✔Virulence
✔✔Which type of disease transmission occurs if a dental chart is handled by a dental
assistant while wearing contaminated gloves then handed to the business assistant? -
✔✔Indirect
✔✔Which term is defined as items that penetrate soft tissue and come in direct contact
with bone, blood, and other body fluids? - ✔✔Critical items
✔✔Which is an example of a noncritical item in instrument and sterilization? - ✔✔Blood
pressure cuff
✔✔Which is an example of a semicritical item in instrument processing and
sterilization? - ✔✔Dental mouth mirror
✔✔Which is classified as regulated waste in the dental office? - ✔✔Endodontic file
✔✔Which is classified as nonregulated waste in the dental office? - ✔✔Surface barrier
, ✔✔The most accurate way to ensure that proper sterilization of instruments has
occurred is to _____. - ✔✔Use biologic indicators
✔✔Which sterilizes instruments in a steam autoclave (pictured)? - ✔✔Heat
✔✔Which type of sterilization used in the dental office requires the highest
temperature? - ✔✔Dry heat
✔✔How much time is required for sterilization to occur when using a chemical liquid
sterilization process for heat-sensitive instruments? - ✔✔10 hours
✔✔Which can occur if wet dental instrument packages are removed from the autoclave
before the drying cycle is completed? - ✔✔Wicking
✔✔The solution in the ultrasonic cleaner should be replaced at least _____? - ✔✔Once
a day
✔✔Which type of gloves are worn during instrument processing? - ✔✔Utility gloves
✔✔A small sheet of _____ can be submerged in the ultrasonic unit to determine
whether the ultrasonic cleaner is working properly. - ✔✔Aluminum foil
✔✔Which is the process that is initiated in the ultrasonic cleaner when sound waves are
produced> - ✔✔Cavitation
✔✔Which term refers to the blood, saliva, and tissue fluids that contaminate dental
instruments after use? - ✔✔Bioburden
✔✔Which sterilization technique may rust non-stainless steel instruments and burs? -
✔✔Steam autoclave
✔✔Which type of sterilization monitoring technique is a multiparameter indicator of the
sterilization process? - ✔✔Process intergrator
✔✔Which is the purpose of placing contaminated dental instruments in a presoaking
solution? - ✔✔Prevents debris from drying on the instruments
✔✔Which is not an item of personal protective equipment (PPE) that is worn during the
manual scrubbing of contaminated dental instruments? - ✔✔Dosimeter
✔✔Which area of the instruments processing center can contain both contaminated and
sterilized instruments? - ✔✔Sterilization area
