DANB COA case studies
DANB COA · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Orthodontic Assistant (COA) is a DANB credential for chairside assistants who work in orthodontic practice. The COA page on the DANB site could not be retrieved for this profile, so exam-specific details such as item count, time limit, fee, passing score, recertification cycle, and eligibility pathways are not confirmed here and are marked for review. The DANB COA case studies are 5 cases and about 3,276 words.
1Separator Lost Six Days After Placement: The Band Will Not Seat
A 13-year-old patient is scheduled for banding of the upper first molars in two days. Elastomeric separators were placed six days ago.
621 words, about 3 min2Congested, Gagging Patient and Twenty Minutes for Final Alginate
A 14-year-old patient comes in for final records at the end of active treatment; the orthodontist has ordered upper and lower alginate impressions for a retainer and a set of intraoral photographs. At the previous visit, the assistant's impression came out with a large void in the palatal vault and a drag mark across the occlusal surfaces, and the patient gagged twice and sat up mid-set.
677 words, about 3 min3Positive Spore Test on a Monday Morning
On Monday morning the assistant opens the sterilization area and reads the biological indicator (spore test) from Friday's last autoclave cycle: it is positive for growth. The autoclave log shows the cycle reached the correct temperature and pressure for the full time, and the chemical indicator strips inside the packs had changed color.
673 words, about 3 min4Divorced Parents, a $640 Balance, and a Records Request
A 15-year-old patient has been in treatment for 14 months. The parents divorced eight months ago.
632 words, about 3 min5Poking Archwire After Hours: What a Certified Assistant May Do
A 16-year-old patient calls at 4:15 p.m. on a Thursday, two weeks after initial bonding, saying the wire on the upper right is stabbing the inside of her cheek.
673 words, about 3 min