Chairside (GC)
- Instrument transfer happens in the transfer zone, below the patient's chin
- The Universal system numbers permanent teeth 1–32 and primary teeth A–T
- Alginate is an irreversible hydrocolloid
Infection control (ICE)
- Spaulding: critical items are sterilized; semi-critical are sterilized or high-level disinfected
- Biological indicators (spore tests) are the main way to verify sterilization
- Instruments flow one way: dirty to clean to sterile to storage
Radiography (RHS)
- Overlapped contacts: incorrect horizontal angulation
- Elongation or foreshortening: incorrect vertical angulation
- Operator stands at least 6 ft away at 90°–135° to the beam, or behind a barrier
Radiation safety
- ALARA: As Low As Reasonably Achievable
- Rectangular collimation reduces patient dose
- Occupational maximum permissible dose: 50 mSv (5 rem) per year
Test yourself on CDA
Reading a summary is the easy part. Take the free 10-question diagnostic to see which of these domains you actually have, then drill the rest.