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Introduction to Dental Instruments offers students a foundational overview of the tools and equipment commonly used in dental practice. The course covers the identification, function, care, and maintenance of both basic and specialized dental instruments utilized in various dental procedures such as examinations, prophylaxis, restorative treatments, oral surgery, and endodontics. Students will learn proper handling techniques, infection control measures, and the role each instrument plays in promoting patient safety and efficient dental practice. Emphasis is placed on hands-on learning and developing the practical skills necessary for supporting the dental team in a clinical environment.
Recommended Textbook
Dental Instruments A Pocket Guide 4th Edition by Linda R. Bartolomucci Boyd
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20 Chapters
338 Verified Questions
338 Flashcards
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following instruments is part of a basic setup for most dental procedures?
A)Curette
B)Periodontal probe
C)Cotton forceps (pliers)
D)Spoon excavator
Answer: C
Q2) In a mouth mirror, which type of mirror reflects the best image?
A)Flat surface mirror
B)Front surface mirror
C)Concave mirror
D)All of the above
Answer: B
Q3) How is alternating instrument handles beneficial to the dental professional using it?
A)It helps in lightening the grasp of an instrument.
B)It maximizes control of the instrument.
C)It lessens the stress associated with carpal tunnel syndrome.
D)It minimizes fatigue when using the instrument.
Answer: C
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Sample Questions
Q1) On a four-number enamel cutting instrument, the third number indicates
A)the angle of the blade from the long axis of the shaft in centigrade.
B)the width of the blade in tenths of millimeters.
C)the length of the blade in millimeters.
D)the angle of the cutting edge of the blade in relation to the handle in centigrade.
Answer: C
Q2) Which instrument is used to plane and cleave enamel and to form or accentuate line angles in a cavity preparation, is used with a pulling motion, and has a cutting edge or blade that is almost perpendicular to the handle?
A)Enamel hatchet
B)Enamel hoe
C)Straight chisel
D)Wedelstaedt chisel
E)Binangle chisel
Answer: B
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is the relationship between the thickness of the anesthetic needle and the gauge number of the needle?
A)The larger the gauge of the needle, the thicker the needle.
B)The larger the gauge of the needle, the shorter the needle.
C)The larger the gauge of the needle, the thinner the needle.
D)The larger the gauge of the needle, the longer the needle.
Answer: C
Q2) The following are all parts of the anesthetic aspirating syringe: threaded tip, harpoon, piston rod, barrel of the syringe, finger grip, finger bar, and thumb ring.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q3) What part of the anesthetic cartridge holds the rubber diaphragm in place?
A)Carpule
B)Silicon rubber plunger
C)Aluminum cap
D)Color-coded band
Answer: C
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Sample Questions
Q1) A rheostat is used for
A)running handpieces on a dental delivery system
B)chair adjustment
C)adjusting the light
D)All of the above
Q2) An _____________ chair features an adjustable seat level and front support bar.
A)Operator
B)Assistant
Q3) A(n) _____ evacuates a small amount of fluid, water, and saliva from the oral cavity.
A)high-velocity (volume) surgical evacuation tip
B)high-velocity (volume) evacuation (HVE) tip
C)air/water syringe
D)low-velocity (volume) evacuation tip/saliva ejector
Q4) Which evacuation device is used to evacuate large volumes of fluid and debris from the oral cavity?
A)Mandibular evacuator tip
B)Saliva ejector tip
C)HVE tip
D)Surgical evacuation tip
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Q1) What is the advantage of a fiberoptic high-speed handpiece compared to a regular high-speed handpiece?
A)It is used with a bur to cut a tooth with decay or other dental anomalies.
B)It is used for adjusting crowns and bridges for final fit.
C)When used with a bur, it generates an extreme amount of heat.
D)It is used to provide light intraorally during use of handpiece.
Q2) The air abrasion handpiece typically is used in the preparation of
A)a class I cavity.
B)a class II cavity.
C)a class III cavity.
D)sealants.
E)A and D
Q3) What type of handpiece would be used with a disposable prophy angle?
A)High-speed handpiece
B)Slow-speed handpiece with a straight attachment
C)Slow-speed handpiece with a contra-angle attachment
D)Slow-speed prophy angle
E)B and D
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which part of the bur cuts, polishes, or finishes?
A)End of the bur
B)Shank of the bur
C)Neck of the bur
D)Head of the bur
Q2) Name the part of the bur that fits into the handpiece.
A)Head
B)Neck
C)Shank
D)Cutting edge
Q3) Which of the following burs has parallel sides without horizontal cutting edges?
A)Straight fissure bur-crosscut
B)Tapered fissure bur-plain cut
C)Tapered fissure bur-crosscut
D)None of the above
Q4) Which of the following burs may be used to remove caries from tooth structure?
A)Round bur
B)Pear-shaped bur
C)Inverted cone bur
D)All of the above
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which part of the dental dam clamp is designed to secure the clamp on the cervical part of the tooth?
A)Bow
B)Prongs
C)Jaws
D)Holes
Q2) Which color is an indication of a latex-free dental dam?
A)Green
B)Blue
C)Purple
D)Gray
Q3) Why must dental floss be attached to each dental clamp when being used during a dental procedure?
A)To prevent the patient from swallowing the dental clamp.
B)To prevent the dental clamp from dislodging.
C)To prevent the patient from feeling any pain from the dental clamp.
D)All of the above.
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is used to check the centric and lateral occlusion of an amalgam restoration?
A)Explorer
B)Articulating paper
C)Plastic instrument
D)Matrix band
Q2) All of the following are parts of the Tofflemire/Matrix band retainer: guide slots, diagonal slots, spindle, inner knob, outer knob.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Select the type of instrument that would be used to carve the occlusal anatomy on an amalgam or a temporary restoration.
A)Woodson
B)Tanner carver
C)Discoid-cleoid carver
D)Acorn burnisher
E)B and C
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Sample Questions
Q1) What device is used to help finish and smooth the interproximal surfaces of a restoration, specifically those of a composite restoration?
A)Half-Hollenback carver
B)Interdental file
C)Finishing strip
D)Tanner carver
E)Scalpel and No. 12 blade
Q2) ________________is one of the protective shields used for light curing.
A)Orange goggles or shield
B)Clear goggles or shield
Q3) The composite well is used for what type of material (or materials)?
A)Etchant
B)Primer
C)Bonding material
D)All of the above
Q4) The loss of output of curing lights does not impact on the amount of time needed to cure dental material.
A)True
B)False
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Q1) Which of the following materials is used to seat a permanent crown?
A)Wooden wedge
B)Wax bite
C)Wooden bite stick
D)Bite block
Q2) Which instrument is used to trim aluminum temporary crowns on the gingival side?
A)Crown-removing forceps
B)Contouring pliers
C)Crown and bridge scissors
D)Bird beak pliers
E)How (or Howe) pliers
Q3) Name the instrument(s) that are found on a tray setup for preparing a tooth for crown.
A)Gingival retraction cord instrument
B)Woodson instrument
C)Shade guide
D)Provisional crown-removing forceps
E)All of the above
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Sample Questions
Q1) _________________ is one of the tools used to carry amalgam to surgical site of apicoectomy.
A)Micro retro amalgam carrier
B)Amalgam condenser
C)Glick instrument
Q2) Name the type of material used to fill the pulp chamber after endodontic canal preparation has been completed.
A)Sterile absorbent paper points
B)Preformed posts
C)Gutta-percha
D)All of the above
Q3) The endodontic millimeter ruler assists in measuring
A)the length of the canal(s).
B)the width of the canal(s).
Q4) _________________ is the tool used to electronically measure length of canal of tooth.
A)Endodontic millimeter ruler
B)Endodontic files
C)Electronic apex locator
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Q1) Identify the type of curette used to scale supragingival and subgingival surfaces; the instrument has two cutting edges and a rounded toe, and the blade is angled 90 degrees to the lower shank.
A)Area-specific curette-posterior
B)Area-specific curette-anterior
C)Mini extended area-specific curette
D)Extended area-specific curette-After Five design
E)Universal curette
Q2) Ultra-high-frequency sound waves convert mechanical energy into vibrations for the ultrasonic scaler.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Identify the scaler that is referred to as a "power scaler."
A)Ultrasonic scaling unit
B)Area-specific curette-anterior
C)Mini extended area-specific curette
D)Extended area-specific curette-After Five design
E)Universal curette
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Sample Questions
Q1) The Vacuum Form is used for which procedures listed below?
A)To make bleaching trays
B)To make custom temporary crowns
C)To make night and mouth guards
D)To make orthodontic positioners
E)All of the above
Q2) The Diagnodent unit is used to
A)measure the length of the canal in the root of the tooth.
B)detect calculus subgingivally.
C)detect the pit and fissures of the tooth structure.
D)detect caries within the tooth structure.
Q3) _________________ is one of the new devices that can be used to detect caries in the structure of the tooth prior to placing sealants.
A)Diagnodent
B)Intraoral camera
C)Neither a nor b is correct
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which instrument would be included on a tray setup for an orthodontic tying-in arch wire?
A)Separating pliers
B)Orthodontic hemostat (Mathieu pliers)
C)Spring coil separators
D)Crimping pliers
E)Ligature director
Q2) What instrument is part of the orthodontic setup for removing excess bonding material?
A)Shure scaler
B)Universal scaler
C)Universal curettes
Q3) Arch-bending pliers are one of the orthodontic instruments that can hold, place, and tie the ligatures to arch wire.
A)True
B)False
Q4) What instrument is used to assist seating a molar band?
A)Bite stick
B)Bite block
C)Neither a nor b is correct
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Sample Questions
Q1) What is the function of suture scissors?
A)To cut the sutures
B)To slice the sutures
Q2) Name the instrument that grasps tissue or bone fragments.
A)Hemostat
B)Suture scissors
C)Suture needle holder
D)All of the above
Q3) Name the instrument that is always found in a surgical tray setup and that removes debris, cysts, and granulation tissue from the surgical site.
A)Hemostat
B)Surgical curette (Prichard)
C)Luxating elevator
D)Periosteal elevator
E)Straight elevator
Q4) A periosteal elevator is used on oral surgery and periodontal surgical tray setups.
A)True
B)False
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Sample Questions
Q1) Which instrument is used to remove subgingival and supragingival calculus in a pulling motion?
A)Curette
B)Periodontal probe
C)Interdental spear-point knife
D)Mesial/distal, buccal/lingual hoe
E)Back-action hoe
Q2) A periodontal kidney-shaped knife is used
A)to bevel an incision for gingivectomy.
B)to cut interdental gingiva.
C)before placement of implants.
D)to measure periodontal pockets.
Q3) Which instrument is used to crush and remove heavy deposits from subgingival and supragingival interproximal areas?
A)Interdental file
B)Periodontal kidney-shaped knife
C)Interdental spear-point knife
D)Epitome
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Sample Questions
Q1) __________________ is a type of instrument used to lift and remove root fragments.
A)Root-tip elevator
B)Luxating elevator
C)Peristome
Q2) This type of instrument is usually included in an extraction tray setup; it loosens the tooth from the periodontal ligaments before extraction and separates and lifts the tooth from the socket.
A)Surgical curette
B)Luxating elevator
C)Straight elevator
D)Root-tip picks
E)Hemostat
Q3) Which type of universal surgical forceps is designed to extract mandibular first and second molars?
A)No. 10S
B)No. 16
C)No. 17
D)No. 88L
E)No. 88R
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Sample Questions
Q1) Nitrile utility gloves protect hands during processing of the dental instruments for sterilization and disinfection.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Gowns worn during patient care must have which of the following properties?
A)Cloth material made of polyester and cotton in accordance with state and/or federal regulations
B)Moisture resistant (against contamination by liquids)
C)Cuffed long sleeves
D)Closure at neckline
E)All of the above
Q3) A biological monitor testing device is placed in the sterilizer for one cycle of instruments; the monitor mails back the findings.
A)True
B)False
Q4) When indicator tape is placed outside a cassette, the strips will NOT change color after the sterilization process.
A)True
B)False
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Sample Questions
Q1) In the reversible hydrocolloid unit, the temperature for the tempering bath should be
A)110° F (44° C).
B)150° F (65.5° C).
C)212° F (100° C).
Q2) Alginator is used for many dental procedures involving taking an alginate impression.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Identify the use of a triple tray for impressions.
A)To take a maxillary impression along with a mandibular impression
B)To take a maxillary impression along with the occlusal bite
C)To take a mandibular impression along with the occlusal bite
D)To take a maxillary impression, mandibular impression, and an occlusal bite
E)None of the above
Q4) In the reversible hydrocolloid unit, the temperature for the storage bath should be
A)110° F (44° C).
B)150° F (65.5° C).
C)212° F (100° C).
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Sample Questions
Q1) A panoramic x-ray is an A)intraoral x-ray.
B)extraoral x-ray.
Q2) The purpose of taking a periapical x-ray is to view the
A)crown, root, apex, and surrounding bone of a tooth.
B)coronal part of a posterior tooth only.
C)bony and soft tissue area of the facile profile.
D)None of the above
Q3) Unwrapped film left too close to the safelight or exposed for more than 2 to 3 minutes will appear fogged.
A)True
B)False
Q4) What is the commonly used x-ray film for periapical and bite-wing x-ray?
A)Size 1
B)Size 2
C)Size 3
Q5) What does PID stand for?
A)Position indicating device
B)Positioning indicator device
C)None of the above
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