DENTAL HYGIENE NATIONAL BOARD EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS UPDATED
(2024/2025) (VERIFIED ANSWERS)
During Dry sterilization, how long at what degree are used? - ANS ✓60-120
min @ 320 degree F
During Steam sterilization, how long at what degree and pressure are used?
- ANS ✓20-30 min @ 250 degree F @ 15-30lb psi
What method of sterilization involves the least temperature? - ANS ✓Steam
at 250 degree F
What are some considerations when using the chemical method? - ANS
✓ventilation is necessary, may damage rubber and plastic items
What are some considerations when using the dry method? - ANS
✓recommended for metal instruments, avoid paper products, may damage,
rubber and plastic items, and not recommended for handpieces.
What are some considerations when using the steam method? - ANS
✓corrodes non-stainless steel instruments, dulls instruments and burs, ok for
some plastics; cotton rolls and gauze, paper packages come out wet and tear.
What is the only way to tell if the instruments are sterilized? - ANS ✓A
weekly spore test
Does indicator tape always guarantee sterility? - ANS ✓NO, only spore test
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DENTAL HYGIENE
,DENTAL
What spore test is used with chemical sterilization? - ANS ✓Geobacillus
(formerly Bacillus) stearothermophilus
What spore test is used with dry sterilization (static air)? - ANS ✓Bacillus
atrophaeus/ subtilis
What spore test is used with steam sterilization? - ANS ✓Geobacillus
(formerly Bacillus) Stearothermophilus
What 2 sterilization methods use the spore test Geobacillus (Bacillus)? -
ANS ✓Chemical and Steam
What is another name for spore testing? - ANS ✓Biological Indicators
What should the Dental Hygienist do if there are any questions regarding
the patients medical hx? - ANS ✓Always contact the patient's physician first
What is the systolic pressure? - ANS ✓ventricles of the heart contract sending
blood into circulation
What is the diastolic pressure? - ANS ✓ventricles of the heart relax to fill with
blood returned by circulation
What is tachycardia? - ANS ✓rapid pulse rate; over 100 beats per min.
What is bradycardia? - ANS ✓slow pulse rate; below 50 beats per min.
What is the normal HR for children (1-10yrs)? - ANS ✓70-120 beats per min.
What is the normal HR for adults? - ANS ✓60-100 beats per min.
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DENTAL HYGIENE
, DENTAL
What is the normal HR for infants? - ANS ✓100-160 beats per min.
What is the normal blood pressure for adults? - ANS ✓> 120/80
What is stage 1 hypertension (mild) considered? - ANS ✓140/90 - 159/99
What is stage 2 hypertension (moderate) considered? - ANS ✓160/100 +
What is the normal respiration rate for a child? - ANS ✓14-26 breaths per
min.
What is the normal respiration rate for an adult? - ANS ✓12-20 breaths per
min.
What is the normal respiration rate for an infant? - ANS ✓30-60 breaths per
min.
Where do we place the cuff on an adult for blood pressure? - ANS ✓over the
brachial artery
Is high blood pressure in African Americans very common? - ANS ✓YES
When assessing a patient what are some areas we look at? - ANS ✓under
care of a physician, hospitalized in last 5 yrs, medications, smokers, pregnant,
medical hx, social hx, and chief complaint
What is an example of social hx? - ANS ✓If a patient likes to drink red wine
socially all the time (particularly for anesthesia)
What may a smokers chief complaint be, and what do we respond? - ANS
✓Whiter teeth, we respond that bleaching would work
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DENTAL HYGIENE
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