WorksheetsTest Review for Dental Instruments and Equipment
Total questions: 44
Worksheet time: 22mins
What is the function of a mouth mirror in a basic dental setup?
Used for indirect vision, reflecting light, and retraction of the cheeks or tongue.
Used for mixing dental materials.
Used for extracting teeth.
Used for polishing teeth.
What is an explorer used for in dental procedures?
A sharp-pointed instrument used to detect caries (decay), calculus, and irregularities in tooth surfaces.
A device used to take dental X-rays.
An instrument for polishing teeth after cleaning.
A tool used to extract teeth.
What are cotton pliers used for in dentistry?
Handling small items such as cotton pellets, matrix bands, or wedges.
Mixing dental amalgam.
Cutting dental wires.
Measuring periodontal pockets.
Which of the following is NOT a basic setup instrument?
Mouth mirror
Explorer
Cotton pliers
X-ray film holder
Critical instruments must be:
Cleaned only
Disposed after use
Heat sterilized between uses
Used without sterilization
Which of the following is an example of a critical instrument?
Lead apron
Surgical forceps
X-ray film holder
Curing light
Semi-critical instruments contact:
Only intact skin
Mucous membranes or non-intact skin
Only bone
Only teeth
Which of the following is an example of a semi-critical instrument?
Amalgam carriers
Lead apron
Curing light
Scalpel
Non-critical instruments require:
Heat sterilization
High-level disinfection
Cleaning and intermediate or low-level disinfection
No cleaning
Which of the following is an example of a non-critical instrument?
Bone chisel
Lead apron
Scalpel
Explorer
What is the function of the handle in a hand instrument?
The portion held by the operator; may be smooth or textured.
It is used to cut tissue during procedures.
It stores the instrument's power source.
It is the part that delivers medication.
What is the shank in a hand instrument?
The connection between the handle and working end; determines the angle and length of the instrument.
The part used to grip the instrument during use.
The tip that performs the actual function of the instrument.
The decorative portion for aesthetic purposes only.
What is the functional part of the instrument used to carry out the task (cutting, carving, exploring, etc.) called?
Working end
Handle
Shank
Grip
Which handpiece can operate in both forward and reverse directions?
Low-Speed Handpiece
High-Speed Handpiece
Both
Neither
Which of the following is NOT an attachment used with a Low-Speed Handpiece?
Contra-angle
Straight attachments
Prophy angles
Water spray
The High-Speed Handpiece operates at speeds up to ______ revolutions per minute (RPM).
450,000
45,000
150,000
900,000
What is the main purpose of water spray in a High-Speed Handpiece?
To reduce heat during cutting
To lubricate the handpiece
To increase cutting speed
To sterilize the tooth surface
Which chisel is used to shape and plane enamel and dentin walls?
In-angle chisel
Wedelstaedt chisel
Straight chisel
Contra-angle chisel
Which chisel is designed for cutting in angles?
In-angle chisel
Flat chisel
Round nose chisel
Cross cut chisel
What is the process of killing all microorganisms, including bacterial endospores, called?
Sterilization
Disinfection
Pasteurization
Antisepsis
Which of the following is NOT a cycle in Steam Sterilizer (Autoclave)?
Heat-up
Sterilizing
Cooling
Drying
Dry Heat Sterilization is ideal for instruments that might ______ or corrode in moist heat.
rust
melt
shrink
expand
Which sterilization method does not rust, dull, or corrode instruments?
Dry Heat Sterilization
Chemical Vapor Sterilization
Steam Sterilizer
Chemical Liquid Sterilants
How long must instruments be submerged in Chemical Liquid Sterilants for complete sterilization?
10 hours
30 minutes
2 hours
24 hours
What is the most accurate method for confirming sterilization has occurred?
Biologic Monitors (Spore Tests)
Chemical Indicator Strips
Visual Inspection
Temperature Recording
What should monitoring services do if a sterilization failure is detected?
Immediately inform the dental office (typically via phone).
Wait until the next scheduled report to notify the office.
Only inform the dental office if multiple failures occur.
Send a written notice after one month.
Which cleaning method uses high-frequency sound waves in a specially formulated solution to remove debris from instruments?
Ultrasonic Cleaner
Autoclave
Manual Scrubbing
Chemical Disinfection
What is the purpose of a holding solution in instrument cleaning?
To prevent blood and debris from drying on instruments if they cannot be cleaned immediately.
To sterilize instruments completely before use.
To lubricate instruments for smoother operation.
To disinfect instruments for immediate reuse.
Instruments should be completely dried and treated with what to prevent rust?
A lubricant (instrument milk)
Distilled water
Alcohol
Bleach
Which is the least desirable cleaning method for dental instruments?
Manual scrubbing
Ultrasonic cleaning
Washer-disinfector
Automated cleaning
How long should debris be flushed from the head of the handpiece after use?
10–20 seconds
1–2 seconds
30–40 seconds
2–3 minutes
What are cement spatulas used for in dental procedures?
To mix dental materials such as cements, liners, and bases.
To extract teeth during oral surgery.
To polish dental crowns and bridges.
To take dental X-rays.
Which instrument measures the depth of the sulcus or periodontal pocket around each tooth?
Periodontal Probe
Explorer
Scaler
Curette
What is the function of a prophy angle?
Attaches to the low-speed handpiece; used during prophylaxis to polish teeth.
Used to extract teeth during oral surgery.
Measures the depth of periodontal pockets.
Used to take dental X-rays.
Restorative instruments are used to:
Place, condense, and carve restorative material to replicate tooth anatomy.
Extract teeth from the oral cavity.
Polish dental prosthetics only.
Measure blood pressure during dental procedures.
What are crown and bridge scissors used for?
Trimming crowns and other dental materials in restorative procedures.
Measuring periodontal pockets.
Mixing dental cements.
Taking dental radiographs.
What is articulating paper used for in dental procedures?
To check occlusion (bite) after the placement of restorations, crowns, dentures, etc.
To polish dental restorations
To take dental impressions
To anesthetize the gums
Tray and Instrument Organization: Instruments should be laid out from left to right in the order of use. Which of the following is NOT a step in organizing instruments?
Use a color-coding system for specific procedures
Place hand-cutting instruments before examination instruments
Place examination instruments (mirror and explorer) first
Instruments follow the order of use from left to right
For proper infection control, instrument processing must follow a specific flow. What is the correct order of instrument processing?
Clean, Dirty, Sterilized, Storage
Dirty, Clean, Sterilized, Storage
Sterilized, Dirty, Clean, Storage
Storage, Clean, Dirty, Sterilized
Lasers vs. Handpieces: What is one advantage of dental lasers mentioned in the text?
Reduced need for anesthesia and often painless treatment.
Increased noise during procedures.
Greater risk of infection.
Longer recovery times.
A mandrel is a shaft used to attach abrasive discs or wheels to a ________.
handpiece
table
motorcycle
computer
Burs are used in handpieces to cut hard tissues, prepare cavities, and finish restorations.
True
False
Which type of bur is most commonly used to remove decay?
Round bur
Flat bur
Diamond bur
Tapered bur
You should know the series numbers for different types of burs as part of your exam preparation.
True
False
