DANB CRFDA study plan

Map the full Restorative Functions domain into a written topic list covering tooth preparation, matrix and wedge placement, interim restoration fabrication, and finishing/occlusion checks

Define every core term in the domain (e.g., condensation, adaptation, contact, contour, flash, margin, interproximal) in your own words in a personal glossary

Inventory your current knowledge by rating each mapped topic from 1 to 5 on confidence and flag the three lowest-scoring areas as priority targets

Draft a weekly study calendar that allocates your 6 hours across reading, hands-on rehearsal, and self-quizzing

Explain the indications, contraindications, and operator/patient safety considerations for the restorative functions covered by the exam

Describe the sequence of steps for a Class II amalgam or composite procedure from preparation through final carving and polishing

Identify the instruments and materials used at each step and state the purpose of each

Write out the criteria you would use to judge whether a restoration is clinically acceptable

Compare matrix systems and wedge types and justify which to select for given cavity configurations

Explain how contact tightness, contour, and margin adaptation are achieved and verified

Describe common failures (open contact, overhang, flash, poor adaptation, void) and their causes and corrections

Rehearse explaining each failure mode aloud as if teaching a colleague, without notes

Summarize infection control and waste-handling requirements that apply during restorative procedures

Describe the assistant's role in moisture control, isolation, and retraction during restorative appointments

Explain how to evaluate and adjust occlusion after placement of a restoration

Complete a timed 40-question self-test drawn from your own notes and review every miss

Distinguish interim from definitive restorations and state the requirements of a satisfactory interim

Explain finishing and polishing sequences and the rationale for each step

Describe how to document restorative procedures and what patient instructions follow placement

Identify the boundaries of the expanded-function duties covered by this exam and where supervision or referral applies

Re-derive the full domain map from blank paper and compare it against week 1 to find remaining gaps

Drill the weakest three topics from your inventory until you can explain each in under two minutes

Answer 60 mixed practice questions you write yourself, covering every mapped topic at least twice

Analyze error patterns and categorize misses as knowledge gaps versus misreading

Simulate exam conditions with a full-length timed practice set and record your score and pacing

Review every missed item and rewrite the underlying fact as a one-line flashcard

Practice sequencing questions and 'first action' questions until your reasoning is consistent

Close out any remaining low-confidence topics from your inventory

Review your flashcard deck in spaced passes until every card is answered correctly twice

Re-read only your highest-yield summaries: domain map, troubleshooting table, and scope boundaries

Take one final timed practice set and confirm stable performance

Prepare exam-day logistics: identification, scheduling, and arrival plan