Question 1

Recommended methods for sterilizing dental handpieces include:

Accepted Answer

A) chemical liquid sterilization. 
B) steam sterilization. 
C) chemical vapor sterilization. 
D) both b and c 
A) chemical liquid sterilization. 
B) steam sterilization. 
C) chemical vapor sterilization. 
D) both b and c

Question 2

All reusable instruments (critical and semicritical)that contact the patient's blood,saliva,or mucous membranes must be:

Accepted Answer

A) heat sterilized. 
B) heat sanitized. 
C) precleaned and disinfected. 
D) discarded in a biohazard bag. 
A) heat sterilized. 
B) heat sanitized. 
C) precleaned and disinfected. 
D) discarded in a biohazard bag.

Question 3

The least desirable method of precleaning dental instruments is:

Accepted Answer

A) hand scrubbing. 
B) ultrasonic cleaning. 
C) instrument washing machines. 
D) rinsing in a holding solution. 
A) hand scrubbing. 
B) ultrasonic cleaning. 
C) instrument washing machines. 
D) rinsing in a holding solution.

Question 4

Process indicators that change color are useful for:

Accepted Answer

A) monitoring sterilization. 
B) identifying instrument packs that have been exposed to a certain temperature. 
C) determining whether an instrument package has been processed. 
D) both b and c 
A) monitoring sterilization. 
B) identifying instrument packs that have been exposed to a certain temperature. 
C) determining whether an instrument package has been processed. 
D) both b and c

Question 5

Biologic monitoring is also known as _____ testing.

Accepted Answer

A) bacterial 
B) culture 
C) spore 
D) chemical 
A) bacterial 
B) culture 
C) spore 
D) chemical

Question 6

At the completion of the cleaning cycle of an ultrasonic cleaning unit,instruments should be:

Accepted Answer

A) bagged. 
B) rinsed with clear water. 
C) placed in the sterilizer. 
D) put away. 
A) bagged. 
B) rinsed with clear water. 
C) placed in the sterilizer. 
D) put away.

Question 7

The order of the cycles of a steam sterilizer is:

Accepted Answer

A) drying; heat-up; depressurization, sterilizing. 
B) depressurization; heat-up; sterilizing; drying 
C) heat-up; sterilizing, depressurization, drying. 
D) sterilizing; heat-up; depressurization; drying. 
A) drying; heat-up; depressurization, sterilizing. 
B) depressurization; heat-up; sterilizing; drying 
C) heat-up; sterilizing, depressurization, drying. 
D) sterilizing; heat-up; depressurization; drying.

Question 8

Instruments need to be bagged before steam sterilization to:

Accepted Answer

A) protect them from becoming contaminated after sterilization. 
B) allow them to be grouped into special setups by procedure. 
C) keep them from rusting. 
D) do both a and 
A) protect them from becoming contaminated after sterilization. 
B) allow them to be grouped into special setups by procedure. 
C) keep them from rusting. 
D) do both a and

Question 9

A process indicator is placed:

Accepted Answer

A) inside the instrument package. 
B) outside of the instrument package. 
C) within the chamber. 
D) all of the above. 
A) inside the instrument package. 
B) outside of the instrument package. 
C) within the chamber. 
D) all of the above.

Question 10

The best method to remove debris from the head of the handpiece is to:

Accepted Answer

A) wipe off with disinfectant. 
B) flush the handpiece for 10 to 20 seconds. 
C) place it in an ultrasonic cleaner. 
D) run water through the handpiece. 
A) wipe off with disinfectant. 
B) flush the handpiece for 10 to 20 seconds. 
C) place it in an ultrasonic cleaner. 
D) run water through the handpiece.

Question 11

An ultrasonic cleaning solution:

Accepted Answer

A) should be a dilution of a surface disinfectant. 
B) should have an antimicrobial activity that will disinfect the instruments. 
C) should be specially formulated for use in only the ultrasonic cleaner. 
D) does not have enzymatic activity. 
A) should be a dilution of a surface disinfectant. 
B) should have an antimicrobial activity that will disinfect the instruments. 
C) should be specially formulated for use in only the ultrasonic cleaner. 
D) does not have enzymatic activity.

Question 12

The type of sterilization used in the dental office that requires the highest temperature is:

Accepted Answer

A) steam autoclave. 
B) chemical vapor. 
C) dry heat sterilization. 
D) chemical liquid sterilization. 
A) steam autoclave. 
B) chemical vapor. 
C) dry heat sterilization. 
D) chemical liquid sterilization.

Question 13

Instruments used to penetrate soft tissue or bone are termed _____ instruments.

Accepted Answer

A) noncritical 
B) semicritical 
C) critical 
D) All of the above are correct. 
A) noncritical 
B) semicritical 
C) critical 
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 14

The ultrasonic cleaner should be cleaned and disinfected:

Accepted Answer

A) every other day. 
B) once a week. 
C) at least once a day. 
D) once every 28 days. 
A) every other day. 
B) once a week. 
C) at least once a day. 
D) once every 28 days.

Question 15

Personal protective equipment (PPE)that must always be used when processing instruments includes:

Accepted Answer

A) vinyl or latex gloves, a mask, eyewear, and protective clothing. 
B) utility gloves, a mask, eyewear, and protective clothing. 
C) utility gloves, eyewear, and protective clothing, but not a mask. 
D) utility gloves, a mask, and protective clothing, but not eyewear. 
A) vinyl or latex gloves, a mask, eyewear, and protective clothing. 
B) utility gloves, a mask, eyewear, and protective clothing. 
C) utility gloves, eyewear, and protective clothing, but not a mask. 
D) utility gloves, a mask, and protective clothing, but not eyewear.

Question 16

One of the disadvantages of flash sterilization is:

Accepted Answer

A) the short exposure time. 
B) the high temperature. 
C) an inability to wrap items. 
D) none of the above. 
A) the short exposure time. 
B) the high temperature. 
C) an inability to wrap items. 
D) none of the above.

Question 17

Sterilization destroys:

Accepted Answer

A) all microbial forms, including bacterial spores. 
B) all microbial forms, except bacterial spores. 
C) bacteria, including bacterial spores and viruses, but not fungi. 
D) bacteria, including bacterial spores and fungi, but not viruses. 
A) all microbial forms, including bacterial spores. 
B) all microbial forms, except bacterial spores. 
C) bacteria, including bacterial spores and viruses, but not fungi. 
D) bacteria, including bacterial spores and fungi, but not viruses.

Question 18

All of the following statement concerning liquid chemical sterilants are true except they:

Accepted Answer

A) have a use-life of usually 30 days. 
B) are highly toxic. 
C) require 10 hours for sterilization. 
D) can be disposed of by pouring them down the sink. 
A) have a use-life of usually 30 days. 
B) are highly toxic. 
C) require 10 hours for sterilization. 
D) can be disposed of by pouring them down the sink.

Question 19

Which of the following patient care items is classified as a semicritical instrument?

Accepted Answer

A) Dental bur 
B) Dental hygiene scalers 
C) Lead apron 
D) Rubber dam forceps 
A) Dental bur 
B) Dental hygiene scalers 
C) Lead apron 
D) Rubber dam forceps

Question 20

Ultrasonic cleaner solution:

Accepted Answer

A) becomes highly contaminated with use. 
B) should be discarded at least once a day. 
C) becomes visibly cloudy when needing to be changed. 
D) all of the above. 
A) becomes highly contaminated with use. 
B) should be discarded at least once a day. 
C) becomes visibly cloudy when needing to be changed. 
D) all of the above.

Exam 21: Principles and Techniques of Instrument Processing and Sterilization

Recommended methods for sterilizing dental handpieces include:

All reusable instruments (critical and semicritical)that contact the patient's blood,saliva,or mucous membranes must be:

The least desirable method of precleaning dental instruments is:

Process indicators that change color are useful for:

Biologic monitoring is also known as _____ testing.

At the completion of the cleaning cycle of an ultrasonic cleaning unit,instruments should be:

The order of the cycles of a steam sterilizer is:

Instruments need to be bagged before steam sterilization to:

A process indicator is placed:

The best method to remove debris from the head of the handpiece is to:

An ultrasonic cleaning solution:

The type of sterilization used in the dental office that requires the highest temperature is:

Instruments used to penetrate soft tissue or bone are termed _____ instruments.

The ultrasonic cleaner should be cleaned and disinfected:

Personal protective equipment (PPE)that must always be used when processing instruments includes:

One of the disadvantages of flash sterilization is:

Sterilization destroys:

All of the following statement concerning liquid chemical sterilants are true except they:

Which of the following patient care items is classified as a semicritical instrument?

Ultrasonic cleaner solution:

History of Dentistry

The Professional Dental Assistant

The Dental Healthcare Team

Dental Ethics

Dentistry and the Law

General Anatomy

General Physiology

Oral Embryology and Histology

Head and Neck Anatomy

Landmarks of the Face and Oral Cavity

Overview of the Dentitions

Tooth Morphology

Dental Caries

Periodontal Disease

Preventive Dentistry

Nutrition

Oral Pathology

Microbiology

Disease Transmission and Infection Prevention

Principles and Techniques of Disinfection

Regulatory and Advisory Agencies

Chemical and Waste Management

Dental Unit Waterlines

Ergonomics

The Patient Record

Vital Signs

Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Planning

The Special Needs and Medically Compromised Patient

Principles of Pharmacology

Assisting in a Medical Emergency

The Dental Office

Delivering Dental Care

Dental Hand Instruments

Dental Handpieces and Accessories

Moisture Control

Anesthesia and Pain Control

Foundations of Radiography, Radiographic Equipment, and Radiation Safety

Digital Imaging, Dental Film, and Processing Radiographs

Legal Issues, Quality Assurance, and Infection Prevention

Intraoral Imaging

Extraoral Imaging

Restorative and Esthetic Dental Materials

Dental Liners, Bases, and Bonding Systems

Dental Cements

Impression Materials

Laboratory Materials and Procedures

General Dentistry

Matrix Systems for Restorative Dentistry

Fixed Prosthodontics

Provisional Coverage

Removable Prosthodontics

Dental Implants

Endodontics

Periodontics

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Pediatric Dentistry

Coronal Polishing

Dental Sealants

Orthodontics