RDA Infection Control and Barrier Techniques 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which category of personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn by dental assistants during all procedures that may generate aerosols or splatter?
- Gloves only
- Mask and gloves only
- Gloves, mask, protective eyewear, and gown (Correct answer)
- Gown and gloves only
Correct answer: Gloves, mask, protective eyewear, and gown
OSHA requires gloves, mask, protective eyewear, and a gown (or clinic attire) during procedures generating aerosols or splatter to protect from blood-borne pathogens and infectious materials.
Question 2: According to CDC guidelines, when should a dental assistant change gloves during patient care?
- Only when gloves become visibly torn or punctured
- Between every patient and whenever gloves are torn or contaminated (Correct answer)
- At the end of each workday
- Only when moving from a contaminated to a clean area within the same patient treatment
Correct answer: Between every patient and whenever gloves are torn or contaminated
Gloves must be changed between every patient and whenever they become torn, punctured, or otherwise compromised to prevent cross-contamination.
Question 3: What is the correct sequence for hand hygiene when putting on sterile gloves for a surgical procedure?
- Surgical hand scrub → dry hands → don gloves (Correct answer)
- Don gloves → surgical hand scrub → re-don gloves
- Rinse hands → don gloves immediately
- Quick soap wash → alcohol rub → don gloves
Correct answer: Surgical hand scrub → dry hands → don gloves
Hands must be surgically scrubbed and completely dried before donning sterile surgical gloves to maintain asepsis and prevent glove contamination.
Question 4: Which of the following is classified as a 'critical item' under Spaulding's classification system?
- Dental chair armrests
- X-ray cone
- Surgical forceps that contact bone (Correct answer)
- Blood pressure cuff
Correct answer: Surgical forceps that contact bone
Critical items penetrate soft tissue or bone and must be sterilized; surgical forceps that contact bone are a prime example of a critical item.
Question 5: What does the term 'Standard Precautions' mean in the dental setting?
- Treating only patients known to have infectious diseases with full PPE
- Treating blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin from ALL patients as potentially infectious (Correct answer)
- Using gloves only for patients with a documented infectious disease
- Sterilizing instruments after every third patient
Correct answer: Treating blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin from ALL patients as potentially infectious
Standard Precautions require treating all patients' blood, body fluids, and non-intact skin as potentially infectious regardless of known diagnosis, reducing cross-infection risk.
Question 6: After removing contaminated gloves, a dental assistant should perform which action first?
- Don a new pair of gloves immediately
- Perform hand hygiene with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub (Correct answer)
- Wipe hands with a dry paper towel
- Apply lotion to prevent skin drying
Correct answer: Perform hand hygiene with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub
Hand hygiene must be performed immediately after removing contaminated gloves because gloves are not impermeable and microorganisms can contaminate hands.
Question 7: Which surface barrier is most appropriate to protect the dental unit light handle during patient treatment?
- Wiping with a dry cloth between patients
- A pre-cut plastic wrap or commercially made barrier changed between each patient (Correct answer)
- Spraying the handle with disinfectant spray immediately before seating the patient
- Wearing double gloves so one layer can be removed after touching the light
Correct answer: A pre-cut plastic wrap or commercially made barrier changed between each patient
Plastic barriers (wrap or sleeves) placed on the light handle before treatment and discarded between patients prevent cross-contamination without relying on chemical disinfection alone.
RDA Infection Control and Barrier Techniques 1
Which category of personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn by dental assistants during all procedures that may generate aerosols or splatter?