CDC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield CDC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What does 'coordination of benefits' (COB) require a dental consultant to evaluate? → How benefits are applied when a patient is covered by more than one dental plan
2. What is the triple constraint in CDC project management? → The interdependent relationship between scope, time, and cost
3. Which billing practice occurs when a dental office bills separately for procedures that should be submitted under a single inclusive code? → Unbundling
4. What does professional competency require of a CDC practitioner? → Maintaining current knowledge through continuing education
5. Why is regular review important in CDC risk management? → Conditions change and new risks emerge requiring updates
6. What does 'concurrent review' involve in dental utilization management? → Evaluating the appropriateness of ongoing treatment during its course
7. What role do standard operating procedures play in CDC Patient Assessment & Evaluation? → Ensuring consistency and quality through documented instructions
8. Why is regular review important in CDC risk management? → Conditions change and new risks emerge requiring updates
9. What CDT code is used for a complete series (full mouth) of radiographic images? → D0210
10. Why is accurate documentation important in CDC? → It supports decision-making, compliance, and legal defensibility
11. Under most state prompt payment regulations, within how many days must an insurer pay a clean dental claim? → 30 calendar days
12. Which type of dental review program analyzes provider billing patterns to identify potential overutilization? → Retrospective data and practice pattern analysis
13. Which component of composite resin restorations most significantly determines their mechanical strength and wear resistance? → The inorganic filler particles
14. Which mechanical property describes a dental material's ability to return to its original dimensions after a deforming load is removed? → Elasticity
15. What is a CDC professional's obligation regarding confidentiality? → Protecting client information and disclosing only with authorization or legal requirement
16. What is a work breakdown structure in CDC practice? → Hierarchical decomposition of deliverables into manageable work packages
17. What is peer review in CDC Patient Assessment & Evaluation? → Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement
18. Which law governs the confidentiality of patient information in dental practices? → HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act).
19. What is the purpose of Coordination of Benefits (COB) rules in dental insurance? → To determine which plan pays first when a patient has multiple dental coverages
20. What is a needs assessment in CDC Patient Assessment & Evaluation practice? → Identifying gaps between current conditions and desired outcomes
21. What is a milestone in CDC project management? → A significant event marking progress at a key point in the timeline
22. What does residual risk mean in CDC practice? → Risk remaining after all controls are implemented
23. What is the importance of continuing education for CDC professionals in Infection Control & Prevention? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
24. What are record retention policies in CDC practice? → Rules defining how long records must be kept and when destroyed
25. What is the primary purpose of a code of ethics in CDC practice? → To establish professional conduct standards and guide ethical decision-making
26. What is the importance of continuing education for CDC professionals in Patient Assessment & Evaluation? → Maintaining current knowledge and adapting to industry changes
27. What are principles of good documentation in CDC? → Accuracy, completeness, timeliness, objectivity, and legibility
28. What property of dental materials does the Vickers Hardness Number (VHN) measure? → Surface resistance to indentation, correlating with wear resistance
29. What is evidence-based practice in CDC Infection Control & Prevention? → Integrating research evidence with expertise and client needs
30. Which CDT code represents a periodic oral evaluation for an established patient? → D0120