CIT Safety & Infection Control 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Spaulding classification applies to dental implant components that contact bone and sterile tissue?
- Non-critical
- Semi-critical
- Critical (Correct answer)
- Utility
Correct answer: Critical
Items that penetrate soft tissue or bone are classified as critical and require sterilization.
Question 2: What is the recommended minimum temperature and time for steam autoclave sterilization of implant instruments using a gravity cycle?
- 121°C for 15 minutes (Correct answer)
- 134°C for 10 minutes
- 115°C for 30 minutes
- 128°C for 20 minutes
Correct answer: 121°C for 15 minutes
A gravity displacement autoclave cycle at 121°C (250°F) for 15 minutes is the standard for wrapped instruments.
Question 3: Which type of biological indicator is used to monitor steam autoclave efficacy?
- Bacillus subtilis spores
- Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores (Correct answer)
- Staphylococcus aureus culture
- Escherichia coli spores
Correct answer: Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores
Geobacillus stearothermophilus is the recommended biological indicator for steam sterilization validation.
Question 4: When should double gloving be strongly considered during implant surgery?
- Routine implant placement only
- All surgical procedures involving blood exposure (Correct answer)
- Only when the patient has known HIV
- Only for bone grafting procedures
Correct answer: All surgical procedures involving blood exposure
Double gloving reduces the risk of skin contact with blood and body fluids during any surgical procedure with blood exposure.
Question 5: A sharps container used during implant surgery should be replaced when it is:
- Completely full
- Three-quarters full (Correct answer)
- Half full
- After every surgical case regardless of fill level
Correct answer: Three-quarters full
Sharps containers should be sealed and replaced when they reach the three-quarters full mark to prevent needle-stick injuries.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT an acceptable method for handling contaminated impression materials after implant impression taking?
- Rinsing under running water before disinfection
- Immersing in 1:10 sodium hypochlorite solution
- Wiping with an EPA-registered surface disinfectant wipe
- Placing directly in a bag and shipping to the lab without disinfection (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Placing directly in a bag and shipping to the lab without disinfection
Impressions must be disinfected before being sent to the dental laboratory to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 7: What does the term 'aseptic technique' mean in the context of implant surgery?
- Using antibiotics before surgery
- Practices that prevent introduction of microorganisms into sterile fields (Correct answer)
- Cleaning instruments after surgery
- Using only disposable instruments
Correct answer: Practices that prevent introduction of microorganisms into sterile fields
Aseptic technique refers to procedural practices that maintain a sterile environment and prevent microbial contamination during surgery.
CIT Safety & Infection Control 2
Which Spaulding classification applies to dental implant components that contact bone and sterile tissue?