CRDTS Dental cheat sheet

Universal precautions apply to all patients: gloves, mask, eye protection, and gown; hand hygiene before and after every patient contact and after glove removal.

Periodontal screening: record probing depths at six sites per tooth, bleeding on probing, and clinical attachment level; a depth of 4 mm or more with bleeding indicates active monitoring or referral.

Local anesthesia maximum doses: lidocaine 2% with 1:100,000 epinephrine = 7 mg/kg (max ~500 mg, about 13 cartridges of 1.8 mL for a 70 kg adult); articaine 4% = 7 mg/kg (max ~500 mg); mepivacaine 3% plain = 6.6 mg/kg.

Caries risk assessment uses DMFT/dmft indices, plaque and bleeding scores, dietary sugar frequency, fluoride exposure, salivary flow, and past restoration failure to classify low, moderate, or high risk.

Rubber dam isolation is required for endodontic access, adhesive restorations, and amalgam removal; clamp selection depends on tooth morphology and remaining clinical crown.

Radiographic selection follows the ALARA principle: bitewings for interproximal caries, periapicals for periapical pathology and endodontics, panoramic for third molars, trauma, and orthodontic planning.

Informed consent documentation must include diagnosis, treatment options including no treatment, material risks, alternatives, and the patient's or guardian's signature before irreversible procedures.

Infection control for manikin and simulated assessments mirrors live practice: instrument reprocessing, sharps handling, and surface disinfection are scored as separate competency items.

Emergency readiness: oxygen, suction, epinephrine 1:1,000 (0.3–0.5 mg IM for anaphylaxis), glucose source, and a written protocol must be verifiable at every clinical station.

OSCE station structure: a stem or scenario, a defined task, a time limit (commonly 5–10 minutes), and a structured marking rubric with global rating plus checklist items.

Answer format that scores well: state the diagnosis or decision first, then the supporting findings, then the management plan, then the follow-up or safety-net statement.

Differential diagnosis should be ordered by likelihood and severity, and must include at least one serious condition that cannot be missed (red flag).

When asked for a drug, give the agent, dose, route, frequency, and duration; unspecified answers lose rubric points even when the drug is correct.

Anatomical and physiological facts to cite precisely: mandibular nerve block targets the pterygomandibular space; the inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandibular foramen; the maxillary sinus floor lies above the maxillary posterior roots.

Radiographic interpretation sequence: image quality and coverage, then hard tissues, then periodontal ligament space and lamina dura, then restorations and materials, then incidental findings.

Ethical and legal answers anchor on GDC-style four principles: put patients first, obtain valid consent, maintain confidentiality, and work within competence and scope of practice.

Time management: allocate roughly 20% of station time to reading and planning, 60% to the structured answer, and 20% to a summary and invitation for questions.