Questions from the op, answered
Short explainers written for dental assistants and students. Each one ends with a question you can take to Cara, who'll go as deep as you want.
Infection control
- Disinfection vs. sterilization in the dental officeThe difference, which one each item needs, and why 'I wiped it down' is not the same as sterile.
- Spore testing: how often, and what a failed test meansBiological monitoring of the sterilizer, in plain language: the schedule, what a positive result means, and what to do next.
- Surface disinfectant contact time: how long it really has to sitWhy the label time matters, what 'stays wet' means in practice, and the two-step clean-then-disinfect habit.
- Do dental handpieces get wiped down or sterilized?Sterilized, between every patient. What the CDC says, why wiping isn't enough, and how to keep handpieces alive through the autoclave.
- Needlestick or exposure in the dental office: what to do, in orderThe steps after a sharps injury or a splash, what OSHA requires of the office, and why speed matters.
Radiography
- Cone cuts on dental x-rays: why they happen and how to stop themThe clear, unexposed area on a radiograph has one cause. Here's how to find it in your technique.
- Elongation vs. foreshortening on dental radiographsTeeth that look stretched or squashed come from vertical angulation. Which direction fixes which, and why paralleling avoids both.
- Do patients still need a lead apron for dental x-rays?The ADA changed its recommendation. What it now says, why, and why your state and office protocol still decide what you do.
Chairside
- Operating zones in four-handed dentistry (clock positions)The four zones around the patient, the clock numbers for right- and left-handed dentists, and what each zone is for.
- Instrument transfer: passing instruments without the dentist looking upThe single-handed transfer, step by step, and the habits that make it smooth.
- Why alginate impressions tear, and how to take a clean oneMixing, seating, timing, and removal: where impressions go wrong and the fixes for each.
DANB exams
- The DANB RHS exam: what it covers and how to study for itWhat's on the Radiation Health and Safety exam, who can take it, and a study approach that works.
- The DANB ICE exam: what to expectThe Infection Control exam in plain terms: topics, format, eligibility, and how to prepare.
- The DANB GC exam and the CDA: how the pieces fitGeneral Chairside is the third component of the Certified Dental Assistant credential. What it covers and who's eligible.