Infection Control Flashcards
7 cards from real ADAP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Infection Control flashcards as text
Which type of glove is most appropriate for routine clinical dental procedures?
Answer: Non-sterile examination gloves (nitrile or latex)
Non-sterile examination gloves (nitrile or latex) are appropriate for routine dental procedures; sterile gloves are reserved for surgical procedures.
What is the key difference between sanitization and sterilization in dentistry?
Answer: Sterilization kills all microbial life including spores; sanitization only reduces microbial levels to safe limits
Sterilization destroys all forms of microbial life including bacterial spores, while sanitization reduces microbial load to a safe level without eliminating all organisms.
When preparing surface barriers (plastic wrap) for a dental chair, which surfaces are considered MOST critical to cover?
Answer: Light handles, chair controls, and X-ray heads that cannot be easily disinfected
Hard-to-disinfect surfaces with complex contours—like light handles, chair controls, and X-ray tube heads—benefit most from barrier protection.
Which of the following actions BEST prevents cross-contamination when taking dental radiographs?
Answer: Using sensor barriers and covering control panel touch points with plastic wrap
Sensor/film barriers and surface barriers on touchpoints (keyboard, exposure button, X-ray head) prevent transfer of microorganisms between patients during radiographic procedures.
A dental assistant accidentally contacts a patient's saliva on their ungloved hand. What is the FIRST action to take?
Answer: Report the exposure to the supervising dentist and wash hands immediately
Any skin contact with potentially infectious material must be reported immediately and the area thoroughly washed with soap and water as a first response.
What is the purpose of an exposure control plan required by OSHA?
Answer: To document procedures for protecting employees from occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens
OSHA requires a written exposure control plan that identifies job classifications with exposure risk and details protective measures, training, and post-exposure procedures.
Which of the following describes the correct dilution for a freshly prepared sodium hypochlorite (bleach) surface disinfectant solution?
Answer: 1:10 ratio (1 part bleach to 10 parts water)
A 1:10 dilution of sodium hypochlorite provides an EPA-registered intermediate-level disinfectant appropriate for environmental surface disinfection in dental settings.