CDT Study Guide 2026
Everything you need to pass the CDT 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.
📋 CDT Exam Format at a Glance
📚 CDT Topics to Study (21)
✍️ Sample CDT Questions & Answers
1. Which material is commonly used for dental impressions?
Alginate is a widely utilized impression material in dentistry due to its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and ability to capture sufficient detail for many applications. It is an irreversible hydrocolloid that sets quickly, making it ideal for creating study models, orthodontic appliances, and preliminary impressions for dentures. While other materials exist, alginate remains a popular choice for general dental impressions.
2. What is 'sintering' in the context of zirconia processing?
Sintering fires zirconia at approximately 1,450–1,530°C, driving off porosity and transforming it into its final, hard, dense form.
3. What is the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE), and why is it critical in PFM restorations?
CTE compatibility between metal and porcelain prevents internal stresses that would cause cracking or delamination during cooling.
4. What is the primary objective of crown & bridge fabrication in Certified Dental Technicians practice?
The primary objective of crown & bridge fabrication is ensuring consistent quality and adherence to professional standards that protect both practitioners and those they serve.
5. What defines a cusp-to-fossa occlusal arrangement?
In cusp-to-fossa occlusion, the supporting cusps are directed into the opposing central fossae, creating stable tripod centric contacts and favorable load distribution along the long axis of teeth.
6. What is an 'immediate denture' and what is a primary disadvantage of this prosthesis?
Immediate dentures are placed at the time of extraction but require frequent relines or replacement as the ridge resorbs rapidly in the first 6–12 months.