2025 Edition

Practice Test for the DANB Dental Assistant Exam Sample

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General Chairside Assistance

1.	A permanent dentition consists of how many teeth?
		a. 28
		b. 30
		c. 32
		d. 26
32 teeth make up a permanent dentition. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

2.	Which teeth are sometimes called the "eye" teeth?
		a. Premolars
		b. Canines
		c. Incisors
		d. Bicuspids
Canine teeth are sometimes called "eye teeth." Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

3.	Which proximal surface of a tooth is closest toward the midline of the body?
		a. Occlusal
		b. Facial
		c. Incisal
		d. Mesial
Mesial is the closest proximal tooth surface toward the midline of the body. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

4.	A permanent dentition consists of how many premolars?
		a. 4
		b. 8
		c. 12
		d. None
8 premolars exist in a permanent dentition Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

5.	When a mouth is divided into fourths, the parts are referred to as:
		a. Quadrant
		b. Arch
		c. Sextant
		d. Posterior/Anterior
Quadrants are the four parts when a mouth is divided into four sections: upper right, lower right, upper left and lower left. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

6.	Using the Universal System of tooth designation, what tooth is #12?
		a. Maxillary right canine
		b. Maxillary left first premolar
		c. Maxillary left canine
		d. Maxillary right first premolar
Tooth #12 is the maxillary left first premolar. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

7.	Using the International Standards Organization system of tooth recording, which tooth is #25?
		a. Mandibular right central incisor
		b. Maxillary left second premolar
		c. Mandibular left central incisor
		d. Maxillary right second premolar
Maxillary left second premolar is #25 when using the ISO system of tooth recording Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Infection Control

8.	Which of the following is NOT a mode of disease transmission?
		a. Bloodborne
		b. Airborne
		c. Indirect
		d. Sexually Transmitted
Sexually transmitted is not a mode of disease transmission. It is a type of transmitted disease. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

9.	Which Hepatitis virus should healthcare personnel be immunized against?
		a. Hep A
		b. Hep B
		c. Hep C
		d. All of the above
Hep B immunization is an effective vaccine that healthcare workers should be given to prevent the risk of occupational exposure. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

10.	Which of the following diseases can be spread through contaminated water supplies?
		a. Hepatitis C
		b. Tuberculosis
		c. Legionnaire's Disease
		d. Primary Herpes
Legionnaire's Disease can be spread through aerosols as well as aspirating contaminated water. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

11.	A patient experiences an infection where symptoms appear quickly and are severe. What type of infection is this?
		a. Acute
		b. Chronic
		c. Latent
		d. Opportunistic
Acute infections are often very quick to appear and have severe symptoms. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

12.	A patient presents with symptoms of an oral yeast infection. What condition could have caused this infection?
		a. Staph infection
		b. Oral candidiasis
		c. Transient Bacteremia
		d. Measles
Oral candidasis is a yeast infection of the mouth, sometimes called "thrush." Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

13.	What is a microorganism called that is capable of causing diseases?
		a. Bacteria
		b. Virus
		c. Syndrome
		d. Pathogen
Pathogens are organisms that are capable of causing disease conditions. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

14.	Which disease is an example of one caused by a spore?
		a. Tetanus
		b. HIV
		c. Hep B
		d. None of the above
Tetanus, also called "lock jaw" is a disease that is caused by spore bacteria. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Dental Radiography

15.	What type of film allows the entire dentition to be viewed on a single film?
		a. Occlusal
		b. Cephelometric
		c. Panoramic
		d. All of the above
Panoramic films allow the entire dentition to be viewed on a single, large film. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

16.	Which of the following is not a main component of a panoramic x-ray unit?
		a. Tubehead
		b. Head positioner
		c. Panoramic film
		d. Exposure controls
Panoramic film is not a major component of a panoramic x-ray unit. The main components are the tubehead, head positioner and exposure controls. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

17.	What type of device does digital radiography use to record images taken of the patient's teeth?
		a. Standard x-ray film, with scanner
		b. Electronic sensor
		c. MRI sensor
		d. All of the above
Electronic sensors are used in lieu of standard x-ray films when recording images of a patient's teeth. While standard films can have their image scanned into an electronic program, they are not by definition, digital x-rays. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

18.	Which of the following inflicts the most radiation on a patient?
		a. FMX
		b. Panoramic
		c. Bitewing series
		d. PA
FMX series inflict more radiation on a patient because they require multiple exposures for all 20 films. There is less radiation needed with a panoramic x-ray. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

19.	What step helps prevent a large radiolucent area near the palate as seen on panoramic x-rays?
		a. Placing the patient's midsagittal plane perpendicular to the floor
		b. Having the patient stand as straight as possible
		c. Having the patient place their tongue in the roof of their mouth
		d. Having the patient smile with their lips apart
Having the patient place their tongue in the roof of their mouth during a panoramic x-ray prevents a large radiolucent area in the palate on the processed x-ray. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

20.	Why does digital radiography require less radiation than traditional x-rays?
		a. The x-ray beams are more powerful.
		b. It uses lower wave-length radiation.
		c. Sensors are more sensitive.
		d. All of the above
Sensors are more sensitive with digital radiography than traditional x-ray films, allowing the exposure time to be less, reducing radiation. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

21.	Digital x-ray sensors:
		a. Cannot be sterilized
		b. Are sealed and waterproofed
		c. Must be covered with a barrier
		d. All of the above
Intraoral sensors are waterproofed by the manufacturer, but because they cannot be sterilized, they must have a disposable barrier placed on them prior to use with each patient. Incorrect answer. Please choose another answer.

Dental Assistant Tests

Quality starts with who wrote the material.

Our practice exam writer

Tiffany Neal, CDA (DANB), EFDA

, has been a practicing dental assistant for close to 20 years. She has taught dental assisting at Everest College in Colorado.

Sharon Boyd, RDH

, is a registered dental hygienist and dental educator. As a professional dental writer, she has worked for several continuing education programs and is the head continuing education curriculum writer for an American Dental Association CERP provider.

Abby Altergott, RDH

, is a registered dental hygienist who has worked in the specialties of oral surgery, periodontics and orthodontics for eight years. She worked as a dental assistant for three years.

Our practice exam follows the CDA blueprint component exam areas: GC, RHS & ICE:

1. General Chairside Assisting (GC)

GC Exam Blueprint:

Evaluation
Patient Managemnt and Administration
Chairside Dentistry
Dental Materials

GC Exam Summary:

95 multiple-choice questions
75 minutes testing time

2. Radiation Health and Safety (RHS)

RHS Exam Blueprint:

Purpose and Technique
Radiation Protection
Infection Control

RHS Exam Summary:

75 multiple-choice questions
1 hour testing time

3. Infection Control (ICE)

ICE Exam Blueprint:

Prevent of Disease Transmission
Prevention of Cross-contamination
Process of Instruments and Devices
Occupational Safety and Admin Protocols

ICE Exam Summary:

80 multiple-choice questions
1 hour testing time

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