HOSA DENTAL
TERMINOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED
(2025/2026) (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) GRADED A+
FOR ALL STUDENTS
Hoe - 100 correct answer as-smaller bladed instrument with
a tip resembling a farm hoe; used to break or pull away enamel
tissue during preparations.
Hatchet - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument with a
sharp-edged hatchet-like tip; used to remove hard tissue.
Chisel - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument with cutting
edge that is used to cut and plane away enamel and dentin. It has
straight shanks, or a curved shank, such as the Wedelstaedt
,chisel, or may have an extra angled shank, such as the bin-
angled chisel.
Cleoid Carver - 100 correct answer as-double-ended, long-
necked, carving instrument with a pointed tip on one end (cleoid)
and a dis shaped blade on the other end (discoid); used to carve
anatomy features in newly placed restorations or can be used to
remove decay and tooth tissue during cavity preparations.
Carver - 100 correct answer as-thin-bladed hand instrument
used to remove decay or carve newly placed restorative material;
blade faces come in various shapes.
Plastic Filling Instrument (PFI) - 100 correct answer as-hand
instrument with a flat blade; used to carry, transfer, and pack
materials, or to restorative material while it is still in a move able
or plastic storage.
Condenser - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument with a
thick, rounded, or oval shaped flat head that is sometime
serrated. It used to pack or condense restorative material into the
cavity preparation.
Burnisher - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument with a
smooth, rounded head that comes in various shapes; used to
smooth out restorative material or other metal surfaces, such as
matrix tip.
Amalgam Carrier - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument
with a holding cylinder for the transfer of amalgam material while
in a plastic form; it has a spring level pusher to expel the material
into the preparation. Is supplied in assorted sizes from 1.5 to 3.2
,mm with various cylinder materials on the end tips. They are color
coded for size (red=jumbo, yellow=large, and white=medium)
Amalgam Well - 100 correct answer as-is what holds the
restorative material.
Matrix (matrix holder,matrix strip, and matrix wedge) - 100
correct answer as-user device used to maintain atrifical wall
(matrix strip) around the tooth preparations. A wooden or resin
triangular wedge is used to hold the strip in place and prevent the
material from leaking.
Loupes - 100 correct answer as-glasses used for
magnification, precision, and identification purposes, and are
required in many procedures.
High Volume Evacuator (HVE) - 100 correct answer as-
curved, metal or resin, beveled tip with a large hole, instead into a
high evacuation tube system handled with off/on and intensity
controls; used for gross removal of fluids and debris from the
mouth.
Saliva Ejector Tip - 100 correct answer as-smaller suction
tip that is inserted into the evacuation tubing from the dental unit;
used for a steady, constant fluid removal from the oral cavity.
Contra-angle Handpiece (CAHP) - 100 correct answer as-
handpiece with an obtuse angled head (more than 90 degrees). A
CAHP is inserted into the power unit's straight handpiece and is
used to gain access to posterior teeth and difficult areas.
Right-angle Handpiece (RAHP) - 100 correct answer as-
handpiece with the head at a 90-degree angle; is inserted and
, connects into the power unit's handpiece; employed in general
use throughout the oral cavity.
Prophy Angle Hand-Piece (PHP) - 100 correct answer as-
small prophylaxis hand-piece rotary angle with a 90-degree angle
head; has a limited opening in the working end for polishing or
brush placement. The PHP is inserted into a slow speed hand-
piece. Many are disposable, and some may be battery powered
with swivel heads and optical light sources.
Fiber-Optic Hand-piece - 100 correct answer as-specific low
or high-speed hand-piece that supplies a light source to the
operative sight for improved vision.
Rheostat - 100 correct answer as-a foot pedal or lever that
is used to regulate the speed of the hand-piece.
Air Abrasion - 100 correct answer as-air-powered hand-
piece delivering abrasive aluminum oxide powder or sodium
bicarbonate under force to clean or prepare tooth surfaces or
remove some carious tissues.
Ultrasonic Hand-Piece - 100 correct answer as-high-speed
vibration-scaling tip and used for scaling and curettage purposes;
sometimes called the ULTRASONIC SCALER.
Curing Light Hand-Piece - 100 correct answer as-handheld
device that focuses a light beam to cure or "set" specified
materials.
Intra-Oral Camera - 100 correct answer as-hand-piece with
a small camera situated in the head; used to transmit various
views of the oral setting.
TERMINOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS UPDATED
(2025/2026) (VERIFIED
ANSWERS) GRADED A+
FOR ALL STUDENTS
Hoe - 100 correct answer as-smaller bladed instrument with
a tip resembling a farm hoe; used to break or pull away enamel
tissue during preparations.
Hatchet - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument with a
sharp-edged hatchet-like tip; used to remove hard tissue.
Chisel - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument with cutting
edge that is used to cut and plane away enamel and dentin. It has
straight shanks, or a curved shank, such as the Wedelstaedt
,chisel, or may have an extra angled shank, such as the bin-
angled chisel.
Cleoid Carver - 100 correct answer as-double-ended, long-
necked, carving instrument with a pointed tip on one end (cleoid)
and a dis shaped blade on the other end (discoid); used to carve
anatomy features in newly placed restorations or can be used to
remove decay and tooth tissue during cavity preparations.
Carver - 100 correct answer as-thin-bladed hand instrument
used to remove decay or carve newly placed restorative material;
blade faces come in various shapes.
Plastic Filling Instrument (PFI) - 100 correct answer as-hand
instrument with a flat blade; used to carry, transfer, and pack
materials, or to restorative material while it is still in a move able
or plastic storage.
Condenser - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument with a
thick, rounded, or oval shaped flat head that is sometime
serrated. It used to pack or condense restorative material into the
cavity preparation.
Burnisher - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument with a
smooth, rounded head that comes in various shapes; used to
smooth out restorative material or other metal surfaces, such as
matrix tip.
Amalgam Carrier - 100 correct answer as-hand instrument
with a holding cylinder for the transfer of amalgam material while
in a plastic form; it has a spring level pusher to expel the material
into the preparation. Is supplied in assorted sizes from 1.5 to 3.2
,mm with various cylinder materials on the end tips. They are color
coded for size (red=jumbo, yellow=large, and white=medium)
Amalgam Well - 100 correct answer as-is what holds the
restorative material.
Matrix (matrix holder,matrix strip, and matrix wedge) - 100
correct answer as-user device used to maintain atrifical wall
(matrix strip) around the tooth preparations. A wooden or resin
triangular wedge is used to hold the strip in place and prevent the
material from leaking.
Loupes - 100 correct answer as-glasses used for
magnification, precision, and identification purposes, and are
required in many procedures.
High Volume Evacuator (HVE) - 100 correct answer as-
curved, metal or resin, beveled tip with a large hole, instead into a
high evacuation tube system handled with off/on and intensity
controls; used for gross removal of fluids and debris from the
mouth.
Saliva Ejector Tip - 100 correct answer as-smaller suction
tip that is inserted into the evacuation tubing from the dental unit;
used for a steady, constant fluid removal from the oral cavity.
Contra-angle Handpiece (CAHP) - 100 correct answer as-
handpiece with an obtuse angled head (more than 90 degrees). A
CAHP is inserted into the power unit's straight handpiece and is
used to gain access to posterior teeth and difficult areas.
Right-angle Handpiece (RAHP) - 100 correct answer as-
handpiece with the head at a 90-degree angle; is inserted and
, connects into the power unit's handpiece; employed in general
use throughout the oral cavity.
Prophy Angle Hand-Piece (PHP) - 100 correct answer as-
small prophylaxis hand-piece rotary angle with a 90-degree angle
head; has a limited opening in the working end for polishing or
brush placement. The PHP is inserted into a slow speed hand-
piece. Many are disposable, and some may be battery powered
with swivel heads and optical light sources.
Fiber-Optic Hand-piece - 100 correct answer as-specific low
or high-speed hand-piece that supplies a light source to the
operative sight for improved vision.
Rheostat - 100 correct answer as-a foot pedal or lever that
is used to regulate the speed of the hand-piece.
Air Abrasion - 100 correct answer as-air-powered hand-
piece delivering abrasive aluminum oxide powder or sodium
bicarbonate under force to clean or prepare tooth surfaces or
remove some carious tissues.
Ultrasonic Hand-Piece - 100 correct answer as-high-speed
vibration-scaling tip and used for scaling and curettage purposes;
sometimes called the ULTRASONIC SCALER.
Curing Light Hand-Piece - 100 correct answer as-handheld
device that focuses a light beam to cure or "set" specified
materials.
Intra-Oral Camera - 100 correct answer as-hand-piece with
a small camera situated in the head; used to transmit various
views of the oral setting.
