ADEX Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the ADEX exam in one place: the exam format, every topic to study, real practice questions with explanations, flashcards, and full-length practice tests. Free, no sign-up needed.
📋 ADEX Exam Format at a Glance
📚 ADEX Topics to Study (22)
✍️ Sample ADEX Questions & Answers
1. Which drug interaction should a dental hygienist be aware of when a patient reports taking a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI)?
MAOIs inhibit catecholamine breakdown, and epinephrine can cause dangerous hypertensive crisis; plain anesthetics without vasoconstrictors are recommended.
2. Which systemic condition related to nutrition is characterized by low salivary flow and dramatically increases caries risk?
Xerostomia reduces salivary buffering, antimicrobial proteins, and mineral ion availability, making teeth highly susceptible to caries.
3. The pterygomandibular raphe serves as an attachment point for which two muscles?
The pterygomandibular raphe is a fibrous band that serves as the attachment for the buccinator muscle anteriorly and the superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle posteriorly.
4. What three types of dental mirrors are there?
Dental mirrors come in three main types, each offering distinct advantages for intraoral examination. Front surface mirrors provide the clearest image by eliminating ghost images, as the reflective coating is on the front of the glass. Concave (magnifying) mirrors enlarge the image, which can be useful for detailed inspection, while plane (flat) mirrors offer a true-to-size image without magnification or distortion.
5. When using a Gracey curette for subgingival calculus removal, what is the ideal angulation between the face of the blade and the tooth surface?
The optimal angulation for calculus removal with a Gracey curette is between 70 and 80 degrees. This angle allows the cutting edge to effectively 'bite' into the calculus deposit for removal. An angle less than 45 degrees will lead to burnishing, while an angle of 90 degrees or more can gouge the root surface and damage soft tissue.
6. A dental hygienist counseling a patient on caries prevention should recommend limiting intake of which type of food between meals?
Sticky fermentable carbohydrates adhere to tooth surfaces and are slowly broken down, prolonging acid exposure and caries risk.