MN Dental Assistant Licensure Exam -
own notes Questions and Answers
What is a coronal polish? - answer polishing of the coronal portion of the tooth
what is the difference between a coronal polish and a oral prophylaxis? - answer
Coronal polish: only the coronal portion of the tooth and the DA can do
Oral Prophy: is the whole cleaning and debridement of calc. This is done by the DDS
and DH
What is the purpose of selective polishing? - answer Procedure in which only those
teeth or surfaces with stain are polished.
The basic principle of selective polishing is that teeth should not be polished unless it is
necessary.
What is extrinsic stain? - answer Stain that occurs on the outside of teeth and can be
removed;
Black stain, Tobacco stain, brown or yellow stain, green stain, dental plaque agents,
food and drink, nysmyths membrane (tooth eruption)
what is intrinsic stain? - answer stain that occurs on the inside of teeth and cannot be
removed;
Pulpless teeth, tetracycline, dental fluorosis, imperfect tooth development, silver
amalgam, other systemic causes
Which is the most common technique for stain removal? - answer Rubber cup
Polishing;
Silex, superfine silex, fine pumice, zirconium silicate, chalk, commercial premixed,
fluoride prophy paste
extra corse, corse, medium, fine, extra fine
Which type of grasp is used to hold hand piece? - answer Pen grasp
what is the purpose of a fulcrum? - answer Provide stability and allows movement of
the wrist and forearm to decrease fatigue.
,what precaution should be taken when esthetic type - restorations are polished? -
answer esthetic & porceline restorations should be polished first. Then there
remaining teeth may be polished with the use of appropriate methods for any stain
present
in which direction should the polishing stroke move? - answer begin with the distal
surface of the most posterior tooth in the quadrant, work forward toward the anterior.
The stroke should be from the gingival third toward the incisal third of the tooth
what damage can rest from use of the prophy cup at high speed? - answer higher
speeds produce frictional heat that can damage the tooth and burn the gingiva
how should the pts. head be positioned for access to the max and man arch? - answer
max: pts. head with chin up
man: pts. head so the lower jaw is parallel to the floor when mouth is open
Why are topical anesthetics used in dentistry? - answer to provide a numbing effect
in a specific area where an injection is to take place
topical medications are supplied as? how long applied for? - answer gels
liquids
sprays
patches
Min = 15 - 30 seconds
Max = 1 - 2 minutes
What is local anesthesia? - answer -Loss of sensation by the prevention of both
generation and conduction of nerve impulse.
-loss of sensation without loss of consciousness
What is added to a local anesthetic to prolong its effect? - answer Vasoconstrictor :
combined with anesthetic to slowdown the uptake of an anesthetic agent into the
bloodstream and increases the duration of action
epinephrine, levonordefrin, neo-cobefrin
what are the 2 chemical groups within anesthetics? - answer Ester: Primarily in
topical (metabolized in plasma)
Amide: Anesthetics (metabolized in liver)
Contraindications for the use of a Vasoconstrictor on these types of pts.? - answer
Cardio/Heart disease: DONT use vasoconstrictor on these types of pts.
,angina, myocardial infarction, hypertension
What are the Injection Techniques? - answer The location and the innervation of the
tooth or teeth to be anesthetized will be determined where topical anesthetic is placed
and type of injection given
Bone structure allows anesthetic solution to diffuse through the bone and reach the
apices of the teeth in a different manner - answer maxillary
anesthesia in palatal area may be necessary for procedures that involve the soft tissue
of the palate - answer palatal
Because of dense compact bone, anesthesia doesn't diffuse well. Therefore block
anesthesia is the type of injection used. Injected by the nerve, entire nerve branch is
numb. - answer Mandibular
alternative technique involves injection of anesthetic solution under pressure directly
into the periodontel ligament and surrounding tissue - answer Periodontal ligament
what is the purpose of fluoride? - answer helps prevent cavities
what are two routes or means by which the body receives fluoride? - answer
Systemic: Is ingested in water, food, beverages, or supplements
- obsorbed through the intestines and brought the blood stream where it is needed
Topical: Is applied in direct contact with the teeth through the use of fluoridated tooth
paste, fluoride mouth wash, rinses, and topical applications of rinses, gels, foams, &
varnishes
what is the name of the dental condition that results from too much fluoride? - answer
Fluorosis: Excessive fluoride during tooth development
what precautions are necessary for children who use fluoridated tooth paste? - answer
Adult supervision is necessary during child brushing teeth, and they should be
instructed to not swallow the tooth paste
what helps with fluoride poisoning? - answer MILK
What is the function of a periodontal surgical dressing? (perio pack) - answer Serves
as a bandage over the surgical site
-hold flaps in place
-protect newly forming tissue
-minimize post-op pain, infection and gemmorage
-protect surgical site from trauma during eating and drinking
-support mobile teeth during healing process
, what materials are most commonly used in periodontal dressing? - answer Zinc-
Oxide Eugenol (ZOE)
Non-Eugenol
What is Zinc Oxide Eugenol dressing? - answer slow setting time makes for a longer
working time. Supplied as power and liquid - can be mixed before hand and frozen for
future, sets to firm and heavy consistency for good support and protection. Some pts.
are allergic to eugenol and may experience redness and burning in area of dressing
What is Non Eugenol Dressing? - answer Most widely used, cannot mix ahead of
time, can alter setting time with cool or warm water, supplied in 2 tubes - base and
accelerator - mix for 45 seconds, roll into cylinder and small triangles for inter proximal
spaces, press with index and thumb
What is post op for perio pack? - answer Expect swelling and some discomfort, ice
on and off in 20 min increments, limit activities to a minimum exertion for a few days, no
hot bevs. or foods. soft diet, no spicy, do not rinse for 24 hours, if spot bleeding does
not subside - apply pressure with gauze for 20 mins - call office
How to remove Perio Pack? - answer -Removed 7 to 10 days after placement
-Gently insert the spoon excavator under the margin
-use lateral pressure to pry the dressing gently away from tissue
-if sutures are embedded in the dressing material, cut the suture material free. Remove
sutures gently from tissue
-gently use dental floss to remove all fragments of dressing material from inter proximal
surfaces
-irrigate the entire area gently with warm saline solution to remove superficial debris
-use HVE tip or Saliva ejector to remove fluid from the pts. mouth
-document procedure
How long does mixing take for perio pack? - answer 2-3 min
lube hands with saline
roll into cylinder and interprox triangles
doughy consistency
type of suture placement? - answer simple or interrupted (series of singles
continuous or interlocking (connected all together)
what does the dentist check for before it is okay for you to remove sutures? - answer
has is been 5-7 days
sufficiently healed tissue
what types of sutures are there? - answer Absorbable
