Practice Test GeeksDAANCE - Dental Anesthesia Assistant National Certification Examination Practice Test
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Patient Assessment and Preparation Flashcards

6 cards from real DAANCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

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  1. During pre-sedation airway assessment using the Mallampati classification, a Class IV finding indicates:

    Answer: No visibility of the soft palate - hardest class, predicting difficult intubation

    Mallampati Class IV: only the hard palate is visible with mouth fully open; soft palate is not visible. This strongly predicts difficult laryngoscopy and intubation.

  2. Which preoperative laboratory value is MOST important to check in a patient with a history of heavy alcohol use before IV sedation?

    Answer: Prothrombin time/INR and liver function tests

    Heavy alcohol use causes hepatic disease, impairing coagulation factor synthesis (elevated PT/INR) and drug metabolism (altered sedative pharmacokinetics).

  3. A patient blood pressure before sedation is 148/92 mmHg. According to AHA classification this is:

    Answer: Stage 1 hypertension

    AHA 2017 guidelines: Stage 1 hypertension = SBP 130 to 139 or DBP 80 to 89. Stage 2 = SBP 140 or above or DBP 90 or above. A reading of 148/92 meets Stage 1 criteria.

  4. Before administering IV sedation to a patient who takes clopidogrel (Plavix), the dental team should be aware that this drug:

    Answer: Inhibits ADP-mediated platelet aggregation, increasing bleeding risk

    Clopidogrel irreversibly inhibits P2Y12 platelet receptors, impairing platelet aggregation for the platelet lifespan (approximately 7 to 10 days), increasing bleeding risk.

  5. A consent discussion for IV sedation should include all of the following EXCEPT:

    Answer: A guarantee of complete amnesia during the procedure

    Guaranteeing amnesia is inappropriate and constitutes an improper promise. Informed consent should describe expected effects and realistic outcomes, not guarantees.

  6. A thyroid storm can be precipitated during dental sedation in a patient with uncontrolled hyperthyroidism by which common dental agent?

    Answer: Epinephrine in local anesthetic

    Epinephrine can precipitate or worsen thyroid storm in hyperthyroid patients by exacerbating catecholamine excess and cardiovascular instability.

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