Specific Competencies and Skills Tested in this Assessment:
Introduction to the Dental Assisting Profession
- Identify career roles, functions, obligations, and limitations of a dental assistant
- Identify professional organizations within the dental community
- Describe ethics and jurisprudence as they relate to the dental profession
- Identify the roles of the dental healthcare team
- Identify the major dental specialties
Communication Skills and Business Office Procedures
- Communicate with patients, dental team members, other health professionals, and the public
- Obtain, update, and file current documentation of patient record, status, and treatment
- Maintain procedures for legal access to patient records according to HIPAA standards
- Schedule and maintain appointment book, using computer and manual appointment systems
- Process and maintain inventory control systems
Infection Control and Hazards Management
- Demonstrate understanding of steps to be followed after a bloodborne pathogen exposure incident
- Dispose of waste and hazardous materials in compliance with federal regulations
- Maintain personal safety and hygiene according to CDC, EPA, and OSHA guidelines
- Understand pre-cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization procedures according to federal guidelines
- Interpret, maintain, and use SDS sheets
- Understand disease transmission and asepsis procedures
Clinical Procedures
- Take alginate impressions
- Pour impressions; trim and articulate cast and models
- Seat and dismiss patient
- Obtain, measure, and record vital signs
- Chart oral condition as dictated by the dentist
- Instruct patient and family in oral hygiene techniques and nutrition
- Maintain moisture control during dental procedures
- Prepare and assist with armamentarium relating to composite resin and amalgam restorations
- Prepare and assist with application and removal of dental dam
- Prepare various temporary and permanent dental materials
- Describe procedures for chairside assisting in various dental specialties
- Prepare and assist with preventive procedures including fluorides and sealants
- Demonstrate instrument and material transfer
- Prepare and assist with administration of local and topical anesthesia
- Fabricate provisional coverage for crown and bridge (C&B)
- Prepare and mix various elastomeric impression materials for fixed and removable prosthetics
- Identify various dental instruments and tray set-ups
- Identify various handpieces and associated rotary instruments
- Identify and assist with various types of medical and dental emergencies
- Demonstrate ergonomic positioning of the patient, dental team, and dental unit
- Provide patients with pre-treatment and post-treatment instruction and management
Radiological and Digital Imagery Procedures
- Mount and label dental intraoral and extraoral radiographs
- Practice patient and operator safety measures for radiation
- Demonstrate infection control protocol specific to radiologic procedures
- Maintain quality assurance specific to radiologic procedures, solutions, film, and equipment
- Demonstrate appropriate techniques for film and/or digital imagery placement and exposure
- Expose diagnostic quality intraoral radiograph using parallel or bisecting techniques
- Identify, select, and assemble radiographic equipment used in extraoral and intraoral procedures
- Differentiate between the normal and abnormal appearance of tooth structure, and supporting structures
- Identify and troubleshoot exposure and processing errors
Dental Sciences
- Describe the body systems of general human anatomy
- Describe head and neck anatomy (e.g., muscles, cranial nerves, facial and cranial bones)
- Name and identify the location of teeth and their surfaces
- Describe the tissues of the tooth, functions, and landmarks of the oral cavity
- Define numbering systems of permanent and primary dentitions
Written Assessment:
Administration Time: 3 hours
Number of Questions: 179
Areas Covered:
Introduction to the Dental Assisting Profession: 8%
Communication Skills and Business Office Procedures: 8%
Infection Control and Hazard Management: 15%
Clinical Procedures: 40%
Radio logical and Dental Imaging Procedures: 19%
Dental Sciences: 10%
Sample Questions:
Which dental specialty treats malocclusion?
A. endodontics
B. periodontics
C. orthodontics
D. prosthodontics
Disposable suction traps should be replaced _____ to maintain proper vacuum strength.
A. weekly
B. monthly
C. quarterly
D. annually
Dental handpieces should be lubricated
A. after removing from the ultrasonic
B. only when required by manufacturer
C. before each use, after sterilization
D. after each use, before sterilization
When measuring a patient’s _____ the cuff is placed around the brachial artery.
A. pulse
B. respiratory rate
C. body temperature
D. blood pressure
When charting, green indicates treatment by
A. an endodontist
B. the doctor
C. the current office
D. another dentist
Performance Assessment:
Administration Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes
Number of Jobs: 8
Areas Covered:
14% Procedure 1: Treat a Contaminated Tray and Prepare Instruments for Sterilization
Participant will assemble materials and equipment necessary, separate waste, sort instruments, place into ultrasonic, turn on and verbalize process, remove instruments, and prepare for autoclaving.
8% Procedure 2: Oral Hygiene Instructions
Participant will demonstrate and explain the proper technique for brushing and flossing.
7% Procedure 3: Mix IRM
Participant will demonstrate the proper technique for mixing IRM, test for proper consistency, and clean area when finished.
16% Procedure 4: Assemble and Disassemble Aspirating Syringe
Participant will properly assemble and disassemble an aspirating syringe in preparation for a block injection following the correct safety and sanitation procedures.
14% Procedure 5: Take an Impression
Participant will properly assemble the appropriate armamentarium, make and disinfect the impression following the correct safety and sanitation procedures.
15% Procedure 6: Prepare a Class III (Anterior) Composite Tray
Participant will choose the appropriate instruments and armamentarium for composite restoration following the correct safety and sanitation procedures.
16% Procedure 7: Position HVE and Air-Water Syringe and Transfer Instruments
Participant will assist operator in a chairside procedure demonstrating the correct placement and transfer of the HVE, air water syringe, and necessary instruments following operators’ instructions, then disassemble HVE and air water syringe and clean area.
10% Procedure 8: Procedure 8: Assemble XCP
Participant will assemble and present holder for maxillary anterior exposure, mandibular left posterior exposure, and bitewing exposure.
Sample Job:
Procedure 1 – Treat a Contaminated Tray and Prepare Instruments for Sterilization
Maximum Time: 10 minutes
Participant Activity: Participant will assemble materials and equipment necessary to prepare instruments for autoclaving, separate waste, sort instruments and place into ultrasonic, provide verbal instructions, remove instruments, and prepare for autoclaving.