DANB CPFDA study guide
DANB CPFDA · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The DANB Certified Preventive Functions Dental Assistant (CPFDA) is a DANB credential for dental assistants who perform preventive duties - sealants, coronal polishing, topical anesthesia and fluoride application - under the infection-control and safety standards that frame every one of those procedures. This page is an independent study resource built for candidates searching for a clear, current path through that material. The DANB CPFDA study guide has 5 sections and about 1,973 words.
01Sealants: Patient Selection, Isolation, Etching, and Placement
Sealants are a core preventive function on the DANB CPFDA exam. The test asks you to decide when a sealant is appropriate, how to isolate and etch the tooth, how to place and cure the material, and how to recognize conditions that make sealing unsafe.
429 words, about 2 min02Coronal Polishing: Indications, Technique, and Limits
Coronal polishing removes plaque and extrinsic stain from the crowns of teeth; it does not remove calculus and it is not periodontal therapy. The CPFDA exam tests patient selection, paste and cup selection, slow-speed technique, and the limits that keep polishing safe.
375 words, about 2 min03Topical Anesthesia: Agents, Application, and Safety
Topical anesthesia is the application of an anesthetic agent to mucosa to reduce discomfort before injection or minor procedures. On the CPFDA exam, the focus is not on injecting; it is on correct agent selection, dry-tissue application, dose awareness, allergy screening, and recognizing the risk of benzocaine-induced methemoglobinemia.
382 words, about 2 min04Fluoride Application: Products, Technique, and Toxicity
Professional fluoride application is a caries-prevention function tested on the CPFDA exam. You need to know product concentrations, indications, application steps, patient instructions, and safety limits.
395 words, about 2 min05Infection Control and Safety: Standard Precautions and Instrument Processing
Infection control and safety questions on the CPFDA exam test standard precautions, hand hygiene, PPE, instrument processing, surface disinfection, and OSHA-related safety. The exam expects you to apply these rules to everyday preventive appointments, not just recite them.
392 words, about 2 min