Question 1

What is the correct procedure for placing fresh surface covers on previously covered operatory surfaces between patients?

Accepted Answer

A) Remove the old covers without touching the underlying surface and place the fresh covers. 
B) Remove the old covers without touching the underlying surface, remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and place the fresh covers. 
C) Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, remove the old covers without touching the underlying surface, and place the fresh covers. 
D) Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, remove the old covers without touching the underlying surface, perform hand hygiene, don fresh gloves, and place the fresh covers. 
A) Remove the old covers without touching the underlying surface and place the fresh covers. 
B) Remove the old covers without touching the underlying surface, remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, and place the fresh covers. 
C) Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, remove the old covers without touching the underlying surface, and place the fresh covers. 
D) Remove the gloves, perform hand hygiene, remove the old covers without touching the underlying surface, perform hand hygiene, don fresh gloves, and place the fresh covers. B

Question 2

The fit of a lower denture is being adjusted at chairside.After adjustment what should be done to the denture before taking it into the laboratory for final polishing?

Accepted Answer

A) Rinse it off with warm water. 
B) Heat sterilize it. 
C) Soak it in soapy water for 10 minutes. 
D) Disinfect it. 
A) Rinse it off with warm water. 
B) Heat sterilize it. 
C) Soak it in soapy water for 10 minutes. 
D) Disinfect it. D

Question 3

What type of gloves should be worn for instrument processing?

Accepted Answer

A) Heavy utility gloves 
B) Nitrile exam gloves 
C) Powder-free latex gloves 
D) Vinyl exam gloves 
A) Heavy utility gloves 
B) Nitrile exam gloves 
C) Powder-free latex gloves 
D) Vinyl exam gloves A

Question 4

After seating the patient, what personal protective barrier should be put on last?

Accepted Answer

A) Mask 
B) Eyewear 
C) Gloves 
D) Gown 
A) Mask 
B) Eyewear 
C) Gloves 
D) Gown

Question 5

What personal protective equipment should be worn when preparing the operatory for a patient?

Accepted Answer

A) Gloves and protective clothing 
B) Protective eyewear, mask, and protective clothing 
C) Gloves, protective eyewear, and protective clothing 
D) Protective clothing, protective eyewear, mask, and gloves 
A) Gloves and protective clothing 
B) Protective eyewear, mask, and protective clothing 
C) Gloves, protective eyewear, and protective clothing 
D) Protective clothing, protective eyewear, mask, and gloves

Question 6

What should be done to the contaminated high-speed handpiece after a patient appointment?

Accepted Answer

A) Flush water through it for 30 seconds, remove from the hose, and proceed with proper cleaning and heat sterilization. 
B) Remove it from the hose, wipe it off with alcohol, put it in a sterilization bag, and place it with the items that are ready for use with the next patient. 
C) Wipe it off with alcohol, cover it and the first 6 inches of the hose with a plastic cover, and place it back in the holder. 
D) Remove it from the hose, wipe it off with alcohol, and proceed with heat sterilization. 
A) Flush water through it for 30 seconds, remove from the hose, and proceed with proper cleaning and heat sterilization. 
B) Remove it from the hose, wipe it off with alcohol, put it in a sterilization bag, and place it with the items that are ready for use with the next patient. 
C) Wipe it off with alcohol, cover it and the first 6 inches of the hose with a plastic cover, and place it back in the holder. 
D) Remove it from the hose, wipe it off with alcohol, and proceed with heat sterilization.

Question 7

What should be done to equipment that is brought to chairside (e.g., a curing light) during patient treatment?

Accepted Answer

A) Remove the exam gloves, put on fresh gloves, use the equipment, and continue with patient treatment. 
B) Make sure the equipment has been cleaned and disinfected or protected with a fresh surface cover before using it. 
C) Keep the exam gloves on, use the equipment, and then wipe it down with alcohol. 
D) Remove the exam gloves, use the equipment, put on fresh gloves, wipe the equipment with alcohol, and resume patient treatment. 
A) Remove the exam gloves, put on fresh gloves, use the equipment, and continue with patient treatment. 
B) Make sure the equipment has been cleaned and disinfected or protected with a fresh surface cover before using it. 
C) Keep the exam gloves on, use the equipment, and then wipe it down with alcohol. 
D) Remove the exam gloves, use the equipment, put on fresh gloves, wipe the equipment with alcohol, and resume patient treatment.

Question 8

What should be done if exposed to a patient's saliva?

Accepted Answer

A) Wait until after the patient leaves and thoroughly wash the exposed area. 
B) Immediately contact the supervisor to institute the post-exposure medical evaluation. 
C) At the end of that half-day clinic session, immediately report to the nearest hospital for evaluation. 
D) Stop, wash the exposed area, and continue with patient treatment. 
A) Wait until after the patient leaves and thoroughly wash the exposed area. 
B) Immediately contact the supervisor to institute the post-exposure medical evaluation. 
C) At the end of that half-day clinic session, immediately report to the nearest hospital for evaluation. 
D) Stop, wash the exposed area, and continue with patient treatment.

Question 9

Aseptic retrieval means to:

Accepted Answer

A) escort the patient from the waiting room to the dental chair while wearing gloves. 
B) remove contaminated gloves before picking up dropped items from the floor at chairside to avoid spreading patient materials to the floor. 
C) use an alcohol hand rub on your gloves before touching surfaces away from the dental patient (e.g., telephone, door knobs). 
D) obtain a single item from a container without contaminating the other items in the container. 
A) escort the patient from the waiting room to the dental chair while wearing gloves. 
B) remove contaminated gloves before picking up dropped items from the floor at chairside to avoid spreading patient materials to the floor. 
C) use an alcohol hand rub on your gloves before touching surfaces away from the dental patient (e.g., telephone, door knobs). 
D) obtain a single item from a container without contaminating the other items in the container.

Question 10

Torn gloves should be replaced:

Accepted Answer

A) immediately. 
B) after the patient leaves. 
C) at the end of the day. 
D) before going to lunch or leaving the office. 
A) immediately. 
B) after the patient leaves. 
C) at the end of the day. 
D) before going to lunch or leaving the office.

Question 11

What personal protective equipment needs to be worn when placing fresh surface covers on previously cleaned and disinfected surfaces?

Accepted Answer

A) Gloves, mask, protective eyewear 
B) Mask, protective clothing, protective eyewear 
C) Gloves, mask, protective eyewear, protective clothing 
D) None 
A) Gloves, mask, protective eyewear 
B) Mask, protective clothing, protective eyewear 
C) Gloves, mask, protective eyewear, protective clothing 
D) None

Question 12

What should be done if an instrument is dropped on the floor during patient treatment?

Accepted Answer

A) Pick it up, wipe it off with alcohol, and continue using it. 
B) Use tongs to pick it up, wipe it off with alcohol, and continue using it. 
C) Put on heavy utility gloves, pick it up, wipe it off with alcohol, and continue using it. 
D) Obtain a sterile replacement and continue. 
A) Pick it up, wipe it off with alcohol, and continue using it. 
B) Use tongs to pick it up, wipe it off with alcohol, and continue using it. 
C) Put on heavy utility gloves, pick it up, wipe it off with alcohol, and continue using it. 
D) Obtain a sterile replacement and continue.

Question 13

Environmental surface covers on clinical touch surfaces should be replaced:

Accepted Answer

A) after every 2 or 3 patients. 
B) just before lunch and at the end of the day. 
C) at the end of the day. 
D) after every patient. 
A) after every 2 or 3 patients. 
B) just before lunch and at the end of the day. 
C) at the end of the day. 
D) after every patient.

Question 14

After exposing x-ray films covered with plastic protective barriers, how should one handle the films before darkroom processing?

Accepted Answer

A) Put on fresh gloves, remove the plastic barriers dropping the film packets into a paper cup, and proceed to the darkroom. 
B) Remove the plastic barriers dropping the film packets into a paper cup and proceed to the darkroom. 
C) Remove the plastic barriers dropping the film packets into a paper cup, re-glove, and proceed to the darkroom. 
D) Remove the gloves, remove the plastic barriers dropping the film packets into a paper cup, and proceed to the darkroom. 
A) Put on fresh gloves, remove the plastic barriers dropping the film packets into a paper cup, and proceed to the darkroom. 
B) Remove the plastic barriers dropping the film packets into a paper cup and proceed to the darkroom. 
C) Remove the plastic barriers dropping the film packets into a paper cup, re-glove, and proceed to the darkroom. 
D) Remove the gloves, remove the plastic barriers dropping the film packets into a paper cup, and proceed to the darkroom.

Question 15

When leaving chairside to obtain a forgotten supply item, what barrier should be removed and then replaced upon returning to the patient?

Accepted Answer

A) Gloves 
B) Mask 
C) Eyeglasses 
D) Protective clothing 
A) Gloves 
B) Mask 
C) Eyeglasses 
D) Protective clothing

Question 16

Which of the following needs to be at chairside?

Accepted Answer

A) Sterilizer 
B) Sharps container 
C) X-ray unit 
D) Daylight loader 
A) Sterilizer 
B) Sharps container 
C) X-ray unit 
D) Daylight loader

Question 17

How should the covered operatory surfaces be managed after a patient appointment?

Accepted Answer

A) Remove your gloves, remove the surface covers, and place them in the regular trash. 
B) Keep your gloves on, remove the surface covers, and place them in the regular trash. 
C) Put on fresh gloves, remove the surface covers, and place them in a biohazard bag. 
D) Put on fresh gloves, remove the surface covers, clean and disinfect those surfaces, and discard the covers in the regular trash. 
A) Remove your gloves, remove the surface covers, and place them in the regular trash. 
B) Keep your gloves on, remove the surface covers, and place them in the regular trash. 
C) Put on fresh gloves, remove the surface covers, and place them in a biohazard bag. 
D) Put on fresh gloves, remove the surface covers, clean and disinfect those surfaces, and discard the covers in the regular trash.

Question 18

Where should used needles be placed for disposal?

Accepted Answer

A) In the regular trash in the clinic area 
B) In the instrument tray to be taken to the sterilizing room for disposal 
C) In a sharps container at chairside 
D) In a red bag marked with a biohazard symbol 
A) In the regular trash in the clinic area 
B) In the instrument tray to be taken to the sterilizing room for disposal 
C) In a sharps container at chairside 
D) In a red bag marked with a biohazard symbol

Exam 19: A Clinical Asepsis Protocol

What is the correct procedure for placing fresh surface covers on previously covered operatory surfaces between patients?

The fit of a lower denture is being adjusted at chairside.After adjustment what should be done to the denture before taking it into the laboratory for final polishing?

What type of gloves should be worn for instrument processing?

After seating the patient, what personal protective barrier should be put on last?

What personal protective equipment should be worn when preparing the operatory for a patient?

What should be done to the contaminated high-speed handpiece after a patient appointment?

What should be done to equipment that is brought to chairside (e.g., a curing light) during patient treatment?

What should be done if exposed to a patient's saliva?

Aseptic retrieval means to:

Torn gloves should be replaced:

What personal protective equipment needs to be worn when placing fresh surface covers on previously cleaned and disinfected surfaces?

What should be done if an instrument is dropped on the floor during patient treatment?

Environmental surface covers on clinical touch surfaces should be replaced:

After exposing x-ray films covered with plastic protective barriers, how should one handle the films before darkroom processing?

When leaving chairside to obtain a forgotten supply item, what barrier should be removed and then replaced upon returning to the patient?

Which of the following needs to be at chairside?

How should the covered operatory surfaces be managed after a patient appointment?

Where should used needles be placed for disposal?

Scope of Microbiology and Infection Control

Characteristics of Microorganisms

Development of Infectious Diseases

Emerging Diseases

Oral Microbiology and Plaque-Associated Diseases

Bloodborne Pathogens

Oral and Respiratory Diseases

Infection Control Rationale and Regulations

Immunization

Hand Hygiene

Personal Protective Equipment

Instrument Processing

Surface and Equipment Asepsis

Dental Unit Water Asepsis and Air Quality

Aseptic Techniques

Laboratory and Radiographic Asepsis

Waste Management

Preventing Sharps Injuries

General Office Safety and Asepsis

Greener Infection Control

Cross-Contamination Between Work and Home

About the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Osha Inspections

Management of the Office Safety Program

Managing Chemicals Safely

Employee Fire Prevention and Emergency Action Plans

Infection Control Concerns During Remodeling or Construction

Filters