Paxton Patterson Dentistry Practice Test

These questions are part of the practice quiz. Start practicing

• How many teeth are normally present in a complete primary set and a complete permanent set, respectively?
• Which filling material is typically used for molars?
• Which procedure involves covering a damaged tooth with a crown to restore function?
• A tooth-colored material often used in place of amalgam is called what?
• During a posterior tooth restoration, what does a matrix band help accomplish?
• Which procedure uses a protective resin applied to chewing surfaces to prevent decay in children?
• A fixed partial denture that spans an edentulous area and is connected to natural teeth at each end is called
• Why is hand hygiene necessary even when dental workers wear gloves?
• Which statement about tartar is true?
• Which of the following is NOT listed as a related dental career?
• After hearing about a procedure’s risks and alternatives, a patient chooses not to proceed. Which response best reflects informed consent?
• What best describes plaque?
• Which procedure involves fitting a patient with a removable appliance to replace missing teeth?
• Why should reusable dental instruments be cleaned before sterilization?
• What is the main component of the composite filling?
• A dental worker notices a monitoring result that may indicate sterilizer failure. Which action is appropriate?
• What is the clinical crown?
• Why should a reported medication allergy be communicated to the dental care team?
• What is the ALARA principle in dental radiography?
• Which type of tooth is primarily responsible for grinding food?
• What is the appropriate way to handle instruments that may have been affected by a sterilizer failure?
• Historically, why were wisdom teeth valuable?
• Which procedure removes calculus and stains from teeth?
• In the Universal Numbering System, how are permanent teeth numbered?
• Which tooth is identified as number 19 in the Universal Numbering System?
• Which permanent teeth typically erupt first and appear behind the primary molars?
• A periapical radiograph shows teeth that appear shorter or longer than they are. Which imaging error can cause this distortion?
• Which statement best distinguishes local anesthesia from general anesthesia?
• During four-handed dentistry, why should an assistant clearly communicate instrument and procedure needs?
• Which procedure involves the surgical removal of a tooth?
• What is the purpose of numbering teeth in dental charts?
• After washing the area of a needlestick injury, what should a dental worker do next?
• What is one possible result of an error in vertical angulation when taking a periapical image?
• Which statement explains how cavities form?
• Why must dental professionals avoid diagnosing conditions outside their scope of practice?
• Which structures are commonly found within the dental pulp?
• A deep cavity extends into which part of the tooth?
• What is the distal surface?
• Why is moisture control important when placing many restorative materials?
• What is a common reason dentists recommend removing wisdom teeth in young patients?
• How often should a person have their teeth cleaned?
• What is the key limitation of disinfection compared with sterilization?
• What is the purpose of etching enamel with acid gel?
• A patient reports an allergy to a medication that may be used during treatment. What is the appropriate response?
• When a sterilization monitoring result raises concern about possible failure, the dental team should first rely on:
• What is a composite filling made of?
• Before beginning a dental procedure, which set of information should be verified according to office protocol?
• What is the lingual surface?
• Which elements are necessary for informed consent?
• Which of the following is not a tissue that makes up teeth?
• Which statements describe incisors?
• Which procedure is indicated for permanently removing a tooth due to severe decay or damage?
• Before instruments potentially affected by a sterilizer problem are used on patients, they should be:
• How should contaminated disposable items be handled after patient care?
• Which statement correctly defines the facial surface?
• After reusable dental instruments have been sterilized, what should generally happen next?
• Which tissue forms the bulk of the tooth beneath enamel?
• A dental worker discovers a concerning sterilization monitoring result. Which response best reflects the worker’s responsibilities?
• Which description best explains how dental plaque can contribute to oral disease?
• How many bicuspids are there in each quadrant?
• After a root canal, if proper care is taken, the treated tooth should remain intact for a lifetime.
• Dental pulp is best described as?
• Define abutment
• Which sequence correctly describes the general processing of reusable dental instruments?
• Which procedure involves removing plaque and tartar from beneath the gumline?
• A dental worker recognizes a possible health condition but lacks authority to diagnose it. What should the worker do?
• What do dental charts show?
• Which statement correctly describes dentin in relation to enamel and the pulp?
• What is the incisal surface?
• What is the primary purpose of reviewing a patient’s medical history before dental treatment?
• Who is a periodontist?
• Which tooth surface faces away from the midline of the dental arch?
• Which statement accurately describes the development and final count of permanent teeth?
• How do adult teeth work?
• What is the primary function of molars?
• How many cusps do bicuspids have?
• Which process destroys all forms of microbial life, including spores?
• A patient briefly loses consciousness while seated in the dental chair. What should the dental team prioritize?
• Why is confidentiality important in a dental practice?
• Which procedure uses a filling material placed into prepared tooth cavity to restore tooth structure?
• A dental professional believes a patient may have a condition but is not licensed to diagnose it. What is the best course of action?
• Which step should occur before reusable dental instruments are sterilized?
• What is the midline?
• What is the mesial surface?
• Which procedure uses a topical fluoride treatment to strengthen enamel and prevent decay?
• Which type of tooth primarily tears food?
• Occlusion refers to what?
• Which of the following best describes a root canal procedure?
• What is the primary function of the incisors?
• What does the occlusal surface of a posterior tooth refer to?
• Which material is used to fill the center in a root canal?
• Define veneer.
• What is the primary purpose of a dental radiograph?
• What is the main function of the premolars?
• In the described numbering, which tooth is number 1?
• A patient mentions a new medication during a visit, but it is not listed in the medical history. What is the best next step?
• What is an important property of filling materials?
• How many surfaces does each tooth have?
• Define Bridge
• A patient faints during treatment. Which action should occur before the team resumes care?
• Which part of a tooth is normally visible above the gumline?
• A dental cast made from an alginate impression is inaccurate after the impression was left unpoured for too long. What is the most likely cause?
• Which imaging method is commonly useful for evaluating the crowns of both upper and lower posterior teeth?
• Which task is best performed with a high-volume evacuator rather than a dental dam?
• How does a dental dam assist during treatment?
• What distinguishes an intraoral dental radiograph from an extraoral radiograph?
• How do transmission-based precautions differ from standard precautions?
• Define Bonding
• Which type of dental radiograph commonly shows the crowns of upper and lower posterior teeth together and helps detect decay between teeth?
• Which term describes a natural tooth or implanted tooth substitute used to support or anchor a fixed or removable prosthesis?
• What process directly leads to dental caries?
• What is a dental prosthetic?
• Why may the first permanent molars be mistaken for primary teeth when they erupt?
• How does chart marking occur during an exam?
• Which step helps the filling adhere to enamel?
• At around what age does a person typically have all permanent teeth?
• To whom do standard precautions apply in a dental setting?
• Which numbers correspond to teeth with an incisal surface in the upper arch?
• What does a biological indicator assess when used with a dental sterilizer?
• Where is the image receptor positioned for an extraoral dental radiograph?
• A patient has inflamed gums but no irreversible damage to the supporting tissues. Which condition best matches this finding?
• A dental assistant suspects a patient has a condition that requires diagnosis. What is the appropriate response?
• At approximately what age do children begin to shed primary teeth?
• Which professional is primarily responsible for cleaning teeth and providing patient oral hygiene instructions?
• Bonding in dentistry is the technique of attaching orthodontic brackets or other appliances to teeth using adhesives.
• What can incorrect horizontal angulation cause on a dental radiograph?
• Why should an alginate impression be poured soon after it is made?
• Which procedure uses an impression to create a custom restoration that fits over a prepared tooth?
• During a composite filling, is light exposure required to cure the bonding agent and the composite?
• Who should perform a diagnosis that is beyond a dental worker’s authorized role?
• What is the lingual surface?
• Which procedure involves surgically reshaping gum tissue to expose more tooth structure for a restorative procedure?
• Which teeth have an occlusal surface?
• When appropriate, what is the purpose of placing a protective thyroid collar during dental imaging?
• Which statement correctly distinguishes gingivitis from periodontitis?
• Why should an adequate dental radiograph not be repeated without a clinical reason?
• Which procedure treats tooth decay by removing infected pulp and cleaning the root canal?
• Which description best fits alginate used for dental impressions?
• A dentist needs to reduce radiation exposure to the thyroid during an appropriate dental imaging procedure. Which protective item should be used?
• Which procedure is primarily used to repair a chipped or fractured tooth using a tooth-colored material?
• A dental receptionist's duties might include all of the following except:
• Which potential consequence is associated with diagnosing outside one’s scope of practice?
• When acid destroys tooth enamel, it usually causes which of the following?
• Which restoration is intended to provide longer-term repair and function rather than temporary protection?
• Which statement defines a crown in dentistry?
• How many primary teeth do children have?
• Tartar is also called what?
• A dentist documents an existing filling and a separate area of newly identified decay. What is the main benefit of recording them distinctly?
• Which statement correctly describes the roles of cementum and the periodontal ligament?
• What is the facial surface?
• What is a common dental use for gypsum products?
• Which tissue is the hardest in the human body and protects the tooth crown?
• What must be completed before instruments potentially affected by a suspected sterilizer failure are used on a patient?
• What does restoration refer to?
• Which procedure is used to permanently replace a missing tooth with a fixed appliance anchored to adjacent teeth?
• Molars typically have how many cusps that form a bowl shape?
• What is a primary function of a high-volume evacuator during a dental procedure?
• Which tooth is number 32 in the described system?
• Which action best supports confidentiality when discussing a patient’s health information?
• Which procedure involves cleaning teeth to prevent disease and maintain oral health?
• What is the main patient-safety reason for staying within one’s scope when discussing a possible diagnosis?
• In the described tooth-numbering system, which tooth is number 16?
• Why should a dental professional distinguish a preexisting restoration from newly diagnosed decay in a chart?
• Which dental professional might be trained by a dentist rather than through a formal educational program?
• How does an accurate dental appointment and treatment record support patient care?
• What is the primary purpose of a temporary restoration?
• What is used to record dental charts?
• Enamel is very hard but can be destroyed by which?
• What are cuspids also called and what is their function?
• What material is considered a good option for filling a front tooth?
• What is the primary purpose of dental charting?
• What is a composite in dentistry?
• Which statement best describes the mesial surface of a tooth?
• A dental assistant is responsible for:
• How many permanent teeth are normally present in a full set that includes the third molars?
• What should happen to instruments potentially affected by a suspected sterilizer failure?
• What does the term 'impacted tooth' describe?
• What should a dental worker do immediately after a needlestick injury?
• A sterilization monitoring result suggests a possible sterilizer failure. What should the dental worker do?
• By what age do children typically have all primary teeth?