EFDA Chairside Assisting & Patient Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When seating a patient in the dental chair, which position is most appropriate for routine restorative procedures?
- Upright at 90 degrees
- Supine with feet slightly elevated (Correct answer)
- Semi-supine at approximately 45 degrees
- Trendelenburg position
Correct answer: Supine with feet slightly elevated
The supine position with feet slightly elevated is standard for most restorative procedures, providing optimal access and patient comfort.
Question 2: A patient reports feeling lightheaded after the local anesthetic injection. The EFDA's first action should be to:
- Administer oxygen immediately
- Lower the chair back and elevate the patient's legs (Correct answer)
- Call 911 right away
- Have the patient sit upright and breathe slowly
Correct answer: Lower the chair back and elevate the patient's legs
Lowering the chair and elevating the legs increases cerebral blood flow and is the first response to signs of syncope.
Question 3: Which instrument is used to retract the cheek and provide indirect vision during mandibular procedures?
- Explorer
- Mouth mirror (Correct answer)
- Periodontal probe
- Spoon excavator
Correct answer: Mouth mirror
The mouth mirror provides indirect vision and tissue retraction, making it essential during chairside assisting.
Question 4: The EFDA is assisting during a procedure when the patient begins coughing persistently. The most appropriate action is to:
- Continue the procedure and ignore the cough
- Stop suctioning to avoid irritation
- Pause the procedure and lower the patient's head (Correct answer)
- Ask the patient to swallow to clear the throat
Correct answer: Pause the procedure and lower the patient's head
Pausing and lowering the head helps prevent aspiration and allows the patient to clear their airway safely.
Question 5: During a restorative procedure, the HVE tip should be placed:
- On the opposite side of the mouth from where the dentist is working
- Directly over the tooth being worked on
- Adjacent to the tooth being treated to evacuate water and debris (Correct answer)
- Near the back of the throat for maximum suction
Correct answer: Adjacent to the tooth being treated to evacuate water and debris
Placing the HVE adjacent to the treatment site quickly removes water, aerosols, and debris without obstructing the dentist's access.
Question 6: When transferring instruments using the two-handed technique, the used instrument is received in the:
- Index finger and thumb of the dominant hand
- Little finger and ring finger of the hand holding the new instrument (Correct answer)
- Palm of the non-dominant hand
- Dominant hand while the new instrument is passed with the non-dominant hand
Correct answer: Little finger and ring finger of the hand holding the new instrument
In two-handed transfer, the little and ring fingers of the instrument-passing hand receive the used instrument while delivering the new one.
Question 7: A patient with a documented latex allergy is scheduled. The EFDA should ensure:
- Latex gloves are used only for the EFDA, not the dentist
- All latex-containing items are removed from the treatment room before the patient arrives (Correct answer)
- The patient wears a medical bracelet during treatment
- Antihistamines are administered prophylactically
Correct answer: All latex-containing items are removed from the treatment room before the patient arrives
All latex products must be removed from the treatment area prior to the patient's arrival to prevent an allergic reaction.
EFDA Chairside Assisting & Patient Management 2
When seating a patient in the dental chair, which position is most appropriate for routine restorative procedures?