RDA (Other exams) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Spore test organisms

Biological monitoring of steam and chemical vapor sterilizers uses Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores, while dry heat and ethylene oxide sterilizers are monitored with Bacillus atrophaeus spores.

Alcohol-based hand rub use

Alcohol-based hand rub is appropriate when hands are not visibly soiled; soap and water is required when hands are soiled and after exposure to spore-forming organisms such as Clostridioides difficile.

Semicritical item processing

Semicritical items contact mucous membranes or nonintact skin and require high-level disinfection at minimum; examples include mouth mirrors and reusable impression trays.

Dental unit waterline limit

Water used for dental irrigation must contain no more than 500 colony-forming units per milliliter of heterotrophic bacteria, the standard recommended by the CDC for dental unit waterlines.

PPE removal order

Remove gloves first, then eyewear or face shield, then gown, and finally the mask or respirator, because the front of the mask is considered contaminated throughout the procedure.

Sharps container fill level

Sharps containers are replaced when about three-quarters full and are never overfilled, because overfilling increases the risk of needlestick injury during closure and disposal.

Post-exposure HIV prophylaxis timing

After a percutaneous exposure to HIV, wash the site with soap and water, report immediately, and begin post-exposure prophylaxis as soon as possible, ideally within two hours.

Occupational radiation dose limit

The annual occupational effective dose limit is 50 mSv, or 5 rem, per year; the cumulative lifetime allowance is 10 mSv multiplied by the worker's age in years.

Inverse square law

Radiation intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the source, so doubling the distance from the tube head reduces exposure to one quarter.

Rectangular collimation benefit

Rectangular collimation restricts the beam to the shape of the receptor, reducing the irradiated tissue area by roughly 60 percent and lowering patient dose compared with round collimation.

F-speed film dose

F-speed intraoral film requires about 60 percent less exposure than D-speed film and roughly 20 percent less than E-speed film, making it the fastest conventional film.

Half-value layer meaning

The half-value layer is the thickness of a specified material that reduces the intensity of the x-ray beam by half, and it measures beam quality and filtration adequacy.

Operator position during exposure

During exposure the operator stands at least 6 feet from the tube head at a 90- to 135-degree angle to the primary beam, behind a protective barrier when one exists.

Instrument transfer zone

In four-handed dentistry the transfer zone lies over the patient's chest between 4 and 7 o'clock, allowing instruments to be exchanged outside the patient's field of view.

High-volume evacuator efficiency

A high-volume evacuator tip placed near the working area removes roughly 90 percent or more of oral fluids and aerosols, whereas a saliva ejector removes only small pooled amounts.

Rubber dam clamp purpose

A rubber dam clamp secures the punched dam on the anchor tooth; a floss ligature tied to the clamp prevents aspiration if the clamp slips during placement or removal.

Bisecting angle principle

The bisecting angle technique directs the central ray perpendicular to the plane that bisects the angle between the tooth long axis and the receptor, minimizing distortion.

Gingival retraction cord purpose

Retraction cord is packed into the gingival sulcus before impressioning to displace tissue temporarily, control sulcular fluid, and expose the finish line for an accurate impression.

Standard anesthetic cartridge volume

A standard dental anesthetic cartridge holds 1.8 mL in the United States; a 2 percent solution contains 20 mg per mL, so one cartridge delivers 36 mg of lidocaine.

Aspiration before injection

The clinician aspirates for several seconds before depositing solution; a positive blood return indicates intravascular needle placement and requires repositioning before the injection continues.

Alginate impression pouring window

Alginate is an irreversible hydrocolloid that is dimensionally unstable, so impressions should be poured within about 12 minutes before imbibition and syneresis distort the surface.

Composite curing depth

Light-cured composite is placed in increments no thicker than 2 mm because curing light penetration is limited; darker and more opaque shades reduce the depth of cure further.

Gypsum water-to-powder effect

Increasing the water-to-powder ratio of dental gypsum increases setting time and setting expansion while decreasing the compressive strength and density of the final cast.

Zinc phosphate cement mixing

Zinc phosphate cement is mixed on a cool, dry slab by incorporating powder into liquid in small increments over 60 to 90 seconds, and used before it loses gloss.

Glass ionomer fluoride release

Glass ionomer cement bonds chemically to enamel and dentin and releases fluoride over time, but it is moisture sensitive and needs a protective coating during initial setting.

Curing light wavelength

Dental curing lights emit blue light in the 400 to 500 nanometer range, with camphorquinone-based composites activated most efficiently near 470 nanometers.

Sharpening cutting instruments

Hand cutting instruments are sharpened on a flat stone at the original bevel angle with a stable finger rest; dull scalers crush and burnish calculus instead of removing it cleanly.

Record retention period

Patient records are kept for the period set by state law and at least until the malpractice statute of limitations expires, often seven years past the last treatment date.

Informed consent elements

Valid informed consent discloses the diagnosis, proposed treatment, material risks and benefits, alternatives including no treatment, and the consequences of declining care.

SOAP charting format

SOAP charting organizes progress notes into subjective findings reported by the patient, objective clinical observations, assessment or diagnosis, and the plan for treatment.

Correcting chart errors

A charting error is corrected by drawing a single line through the entry, writing the correction, and initialing and dating it; erasures and correction fluid are never acceptable.

Mandatory reporting exceptions

Confidentiality may be breached without patient consent when required by law, including reportable communicable diseases, suspected child or elder abuse, and court-ordered disclosures.