Dental Assistant – Induction Quiz

True or False: Intraoral mirrors are semi critical instruments.

TRUE or FALSE: All handpieces must be sterilised after each use.

TRUE or FALSE: We use alcohol-based hand rub with 70% alcohol content when performing surgical hand hygiene.

TRUE or FALSE: Tracking instruments in patients’ files is mandatory.

TRUE or FALSE: Dental Boutique practices use only B-class autoclaves for sterilising instruments.

The temperature and time required for sterilisation of instruments in an autoclave on a standard universal B cycle is:

TRUE or FALSE: Each morning, we must run the vacuum test and then the combined Bowie Dick-type/helix test for each of our autoclaves before processing instruments.

TRUE or FALSE: The helix test checks for air removal from porous items.

TRUE or FALSE: We can use universal quick cycles in our autoclaves, eg. Quick B 134 degrees, for wrapped/bagged instruments

TRUE or FALSE: We use an appropriate Class 6 indicator in each autoclave load.

TRUE or False: All critical instruments must be bagged/wrapped prior to autoclaving (sterilisation), and must have batch control identification.

TRUE or FALSE: We perform the pencil test for the ultrasonic bath in steri on a weekly basis and record the results in Core Practice or Principle.

TRUE or FALSE: We flush the dental unit waterlines for 30 seconds at the start and end of each day.

TRUE or FALSE: We flush water down the suction lines between each patient and run suction line cleaner at the end of each day.

TRUE or FALSE: We test our dental unit waterlines every 6 months for biofilm accumulation, using dip slide tests.

TRUE or FALSE: Sharps bins are to be sealed shut when three quarters full and taken to a medical disposal centre by the practice manager.

Examples of sharps include (pick only one answer):

TRUE or FALSE: Only practitioners are allowed to disassemble and dispose of their sharps.

TRUE or FALSE: Contaminated instruments must be taken to steri in a lidded, puncture resistant transport container.

TRUE or FALSE: Wearing gloves while setting up clean instruments for non-surgical procedures is recommended

Handpieces can be cooled down after unloading them from the autoclave by running them under cool, sterile water.

Xray sensors are designed to withstand considerable wear and tear and can be stretched and distorted as necessary to accommodate the position of the patient.

Nail varnish/false nails are acceptable if you are not assisting for surgical/aseptic procedures.

Harold loads the autoclave with instruments, but it is only half full. He lets the team know that he is going on his lunch break, and that they can start the autoclave cycle when it fills up with more instruments.

Harold should have done the following (select one answer only):

Harold is preparing to change over the room as his dentist has just completed a procedure. The dentist begins writing their notes. The syringe is lying there on the bracket tray, fully loaded with carpule and needle. Harold should: