NDAEB - National Dental Assisting Examination Board Patient Care Procedures 2

Question 1

During a procedure, the patient begins to show signs of syncope (fainting) — they appear pale, diaphoretic, and report feeling lightheaded. What is the dental assistant's immediate priority action?

Accepted Answer

Lower the patient's head below the level of their heart by reclining the chair and elevating their legs

Answer

Administer oxygen via nasal cannula and monitor vital signs

Answer

Offer the patient a glass of water and have them sit upright

Answer

Terminate the procedure and contact emergency medical services immediately

Question 2

When documenting a patient's chart entry in a dental office, which of the following practices best reflects proper legal and ethical record-keeping standards?

Accepted Answer

Draw a single line through the error, write the correction beside it, and initial and date the correction

Answer

Use correction fluid (white-out) to neatly cover any charting errors before rewriting the correct information

Answer

Erase the incorrect entry and rewrite it legibly so the record appears clean

Answer

Remove the page containing the error and replace it with a corrected version

Question 3

A patient returns to the dental office two days after an extraction reporting increasing pain that began the day before, a foul taste, and an empty-appearing socket. Which condition does this presentation most likely indicate, and what is the dental assistant's role?

Accepted Answer

Alveolar osteitis (dry socket); prepare the tray for socket irrigation and medicament placement as directed by the dentist

Answer

Normal post-operative healing; reassure the patient and reschedule for a routine follow-up in one week

Answer

Acute abscess formation; administer antibiotics from the office emergency kit before the dentist arrives

Answer

Post-extraction hematoma; apply a pressure dressing and have the patient bite down firmly

Question 4

When assisting during a rubber dam placement, the dental assistant passes the rubber dam forceps to the dentist with the clamp already seated on the forceps. Which sequence correctly describes the remaining steps to complete rubber dam isolation?

Accepted Answer

Punch the dam, place the dam over the clamp bow, position the clamp and dam onto the anchor tooth simultaneously, seat the frame, and use floss to pass the dam through the contacts

Answer

Punch the dam, position the frame, place the clamp and dam simultaneously onto the anchor tooth, then thread the dam through the contacts with floss

Answer

Place the frame first, then punch the dam, place the clamp, and tuck the dam edges under the gingival margin

Answer

Place the clamp first without the dam, then stretch the dam over the clamp, seat the frame, and omit interdental flossing

Question 5

A dental assistant is preparing a tray for an adult patient requiring a prophylaxis (dental cleaning) appointment. Which of the following instrument selections is most appropriate and complete for this procedure?

Accepted Answer

Explorer, periodontal probe, universal curette or sickle scaler, Gracey curettes, rubber cup, prophy paste, floss, and saliva ejector

Answer

Spoon excavator, hand chisel, matrix band, and amalgam condenser

Answer

Straight elevator, periosteal elevator, extraction forceps, and surgical suction tip

Answer

Shade guide, composite placement instrument, curing light, and polishing strips

Question 6

During a composite resin restoration, the dentist instructs the dental assistant to perform selective etching on enamel margins only. What material is used, and how long should it be applied to enamel before rinsing?

Accepted Answer

37% phosphoric acid (etchant) applied to enamel for 15–30 seconds, then thoroughly rinsed and lightly air-dried

Answer

Dentin bonding agent applied for 60 seconds, then light-cured in place without rinsing

Answer

10% citric acid applied for 5 seconds, blot-dried, then immediately covered with resin

Answer

Zinc polycarboxylate conditioner applied for 10 seconds and wiped away with a damp gauze