DENTAL ASSISTING REVIEW QUESTIONS
DENTALELLE TUTORING
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Dental Assisting Session Two QUESTIONS
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Where is the Mid-Sagittal Suture and Lambdoid Suture?
Where is the occipital bone?
Where are the lesser and greater wings?
Where is the optic foramen?
What is the Crista Galli?
What are the smallest and most fragile facial bones?
What is the inferior nasal concha?
What is a flat bone?
What is a ‘U’ shaped bone?
What is the muscle that contracts the condyle is pulled forward and down producing mouth
opening?
What is normal blood pressure?
What is normal respiration and pulse?
What is hypertension and hypotension?
How should the dental assistant be seated?
What are the five categories of motion?
What must the dental assistant know about ‘zones?’
What are the steps for sealant placement?
What are inlays and onlays?
What is gutta percha?
What are some causes of acquired malocclusions?
What are some causes of recession?
What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic staining?
What is something that develops in about 3% to 4% of all extractions? This occurs when a
blood clot doesn't form in the hole or the blood clot breaks off or breaks down too early.
Dental Assisting Session Two ANSWERS
1. Where is the Mid-Sagittal Suture and Lambdoid Suture?
The sagittal suture is a dense, fibrous connective tissue joint between the two parietal bones of
the skull. At birth, the bones of the skull do not meet. If certain bones of the skull grow too fast
then "premature closure" of the sutures may occur. This can result in skull deformities. If the
sagittal suture closes early the skull becomes long, narrow, and wedge-shaped, a condition
called scaphocephaly. The lambdoid suture (or lambdoidal suture) is a dense, fibrous
connective tissue joint on the posterior aspect of the skull that connects the parietal bones with
the occipital bone. The parietals articulate with each other by way of the Mid-Sagittal Suture,
and with the frontal bone anteriorly by way of the Coronal Suture.
2. What is the occipital bone?
The Occipital Bone consists of a large squamous, or flattened portion separated from a small
thick basal portion by the Foramen Magnum on either side of which is a left or right Occipital
Condyle.
3. Where are the lesser and greater wings?
The Sphenoid has a number of features and projections, which allow it to be seen from various
views of the skull. It is a single bone that runs through the mid-sagittal plane and aids to connect
the cranial skeleton to the facial skeleton. It consists of a hollow body, which contains
the Sphenoidal Sinus, and three pairs of projections: the more superior Lesser Wings, the
intermediate Greater Wings, and the most inferior projecting Pterygoid Processes.
4. Where is the optic foramen?
The smaller lesser wings possesses the Optic Foramen through which the optic or second cranial
nerve passes before giving rise to the eye.
5. Where is the Critsa Galli?
The Ethmoid has a number of features and projections, but unlike the sphenoid it cannot be
seen from various views of the skull. It is a single bone that runs through the mid-sagittal plane
and aids to connect the cranial skeleton to the facial skeleton. It consists of various plates and
paired projections. The most superior projection is the Crista Galli, found within the cranium. It
assists in dividing the left and right frontal lobes of the brain. Lateral projections from the Crista
Galli are the left and right Cribriform Plates which in life cradle the first cranial nerves i.e., the
olfactory nerves.
6. What are the smallest and most fragile facial bones?
The Lacrimal bones are the smallest and most fragile of the facial bones. They are paired left
and right and assist in forming the anterior portion of the medial wall of each eye orbit. They are
basically rectangular with two surfaces and four borders. Each of the borders articulate with the
bones that surround the Lacrimal.
7. What is the inferior nasal concha?
The Inferior Nasal Concha is a very thin, porous, and fragile, paired bone basically elongated and
curled upon itself. It lays in the horizontal plane and is attached to the lateral wall of the nasal
cavity. By way of the Maxillary Process on the bones lateral surface, it is attached to the maxilla,
and by way of the Lacrimal, Ethmoid and Palatine Processes to each of the bones which assist in
forming the lateral wall of the nasal cavity.
8. What is a flat bone?
The Vomer is a single relatively flat bone located in the mid-sagittal plane. It articulates with the
perpendicular plate of the Ethmoid superiorly and together aid in forming the nasal septum.
While it is frequently deflected slightly to the left or right, in general the septum is aligned
perpendicularly and divides the nasal aperture into the left and right nasal passages.
9. What is a ‘U’ shaped bone?
The hyoid is a single small "U" shaped bone in the adult which does not articulate with any other
bone. It is suspended from the styloid process of each temporal bone by means of the
stylohyoid ligaments. It is located in the mid-sagittal plane, at the front of the throat, and
beneath the mandible but above the larynx near the level of the third cervical vertebrae. It is
formed from three separate parts (i.e., the Body, and the left and right Greater and Lesser
Cornu) which fuse in early adulthood. The base of the "U" shaped bone is located anteriorly
while the Cornu project posteriorly.
10. What is the muscle that contracts the condyle is pulled forward and down producing mouth
opening?
Lateral pterygoid muscle - when this muscle contracts the condyle is pulled forward and down
producing mouth opening.
11. What is normal blood pressure?
115/75 or 120/80 – depends on the textbook you read . Both are considered normal.
12. What is normal respiration and pulse?
14-20 respirations and normal pulse is 60-90 bpm.
13. What is hypertension and hypotension?
Hypertension is high blood pressure and hypotension is low bleed pressure. With hypertension
sometimes treatment is changing the diet (less salt!) and exercise or medications may also be
needed.
14. How should the dental assistant be seated?
Neutral-sitting position is ideal. This is sitting upright with your back straight and weight evenly
distributed over the seat. Legs should be slightly separated with feet flat on the ring around the
base of the chair. Your thighs should be parallel to the floor and front edge of the chair even
with the patient's mouth. Position your chair close to the side of the patient with knees facing
toward the patient's head. The height of the chair should be such that your eye level is 4 to 6
inches above the operator. This will give you a good line of vision into all areas of the patient's
mouth.
If your chair has an arm support, it should be at the level of your abdomen and be used for
reaching and leaning forward. The position of the mobile cart or cabinet top should be over
your thighs and as close as possible.
15. What are the five categories of motion?
Class I is using fingers only such as flipping ends of the instrument.
Class II is using fingers and wrist. This could be transferring an instrument to the operator.
Movement of fingers, wrist and arm are Class III. Oral evacuation is in this classification.
Mixing of dental materials involves movement of the entire arm and shoulder. This is classified
as Class IV.
Class V is movement of the arm and twisting of the body. Twisting behind you to adjust the
dental light would be this classification.
16. What must the dental assistant know about ‘zones?’
The work area around the patient is arranged into zones representing hours on a clock. The
activity zone for the operator is 7 o'clock to 12 o'clock. All activities of the operator at the
Chairside are performed in this zone. The assisting zone is 2 o'clock to 4 o'clock.
In this zone, the assistant is positioned. The assistant transfers materials and instruments in the
transfer zone, which is 4 o'clock to 7 o'clock.
17. What are the steps for sealant placement?
Wash the tooth with pumice and water to ensure it is clean
Wash and dry the tooth
Apply your cotton rolls, dry angles, etc. to the area
Apply etch and allow to sit for 10-30 seconds depending on the manufacturer’s instructions
Wash the etch very well, dry very well. To ensure proper etching has taken place, the tooth
must appear a chalky white and if not, re-etch for 10-20 seconds
Apply the sealant material
Run an explorer along the sealant to prevent air bubbles from forming
Light cure for 10-20 seconds
Check sealant with explorer to make sure no voids are present
Use bite paper to check the bite (articulation), if the sealant is high, the Dentist can smooth off
with a high speed hand piece
18. What are inlays and onlays?
Made indirectly (in a lab) and onlays go ‘on top’ of the tooth and involve the cusps, when inlays
go inside the tooth and do not involve the cusps.
19. What is gutta percha?
Used inside the canal of the tooth to fill it, used in root canal procedures.
20. What are some causes of acquired malocclusions?
Trauma (including delayed weaning from thumb, finger, or pacifier sucking)
Mouth breathing (due to enlarged tonsils or adenoids, blocked nasal passages etc.)
Premature loss of baby or adult teeth
21. What are some causes of recession?
The most common cause is brushing the teeth too hard, and over time recession can result. An
EXTRA soft toothbrush is recommended for those who brush too hard and currently have
recession
22. What is the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic staining?
Intrinsic staining is stain ‘within’ the tooth and cannot be brushed away. Extrinsic stain is stain
‘outside’ the tooth and can be polished or cleaned away.
23. What is something that develops in about 3% to 4% of all extractions? This occurs when a
blood clot doesn't form in the hole or the blood clot breaks off or breaks down too early.
A dry socket. Dry socket occurs up to 30% of the time when impacted teeth are removed. It is
also more likely after difficult extractions. Smokers and women who take birth control pills are
more likely to have a dry socket.
A dry socket needs to be treated with a medicated dressing to stop the pain and encourage the
area to heal.
Infection can set in after an extraction. However, you probably won't get an infection if you have
a healthy immune system.