Your FREE DANB CDA Flashcards 2026 – 250+ Cards

The U.S. standard: permanent teeth are numbered 1–32, starting at the maxillary right third molar (1) and ending at the mandibular right third molar (32).

The maxillary right third molar (upper-right wisdom tooth) — numbering begins here.

The two maxillary central incisors — #8 is the right central, #9 is the left central.

32 permanent teeth: 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars (including third molars).

20 primary teeth. In the Universal system they are lettered A through T.

Incisors (cut), canines/cuspids (tear), premolars/bicuspids (crush), molars (grind).

The tooth surface toward the midline of the arch (toward the front centerline).

The tooth surface away from the midline (toward the back of the arch).

The surface toward the cheek or lip — called buccal on posterior teeth and labial on anterior teeth.

The tooth surface facing the tongue.

The chewing surface of posterior teeth (premolars and molars).

The biting edge of anterior teeth (incisors and canines).

Divides the mouth into four quadrants with a bracket symbol; permanent teeth are 1–8 per quadrant from the midline back.

A two-digit system: the first digit is the quadrant (1–4 permanent), the second is the tooth (1–8 from midline).

The front teeth: incisors and canines.

The back teeth: premolars and molars.

Maxillary = the upper jaw (fixed to the skull); mandibular = the lower jaw (the movable jaw).

Normal molar relationship (neutrocclusion) but with crowding or other tooth-position problems.

The mandibular (lower) arch is positioned distal (back) to the maxillary — a retruded lower jaw, 'overbite' look.

The mandibular (lower) arch is positioned mesial (forward) to the maxillary — a protruded lower jaw, 'underbite.'

Seated, coordinated team dentistry where the assistant anticipates and passes instruments so the operator never looks away from the field.

The area where instruments are passed — typically near the patient's chin/chest, below the patient's nose, out of sight of the patient's eyes.

Operator 7–12 o'clock, assistant 2–4 o'clock, transfer zone 4–7, static (instrument) zone 12–2.

60–100 beats per minute.

12–20 breaths per minute (count discreetly so the patient doesn't alter their breathing).

About 98.6°F (37°C); the febrile (fever) threshold is generally ≥100.4°F (38°C).

Less than 120/80 mmHg. The top number is systolic (heart contracting); the bottom is diastolic (heart at rest).

Systolic (higher) = pressure when the heart contracts; diastolic (lower) = pressure when the heart rests between beats.

To identify conditions, allergies, and medications that affect dental treatment and patient safety before care begins.

They raise the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), especially after extractions or oral surgery.

A vasoconstrictor added to prolong anesthesia and reduce bleeding by constricting blood vessels at the site.

Topical numbs the surface mucosa before the injection; local/injectable anesthetic blocks the nerve to numb the tooth and tissue.

A silver-colored alloy (silver, tin, copper, mercury) used for posterior fillings; strong and durable.

A tooth-colored filling material that is acid-etched and bonded, then light-cured; used where esthetics matter.

Phosphoric acid (≈37%) is applied to roughen and clean the enamel so the bonding agent and composite mechanically lock on.

A device that emits visible blue light to polymerize (harden) light-cured composite resin.

An instrument used to carry and dispense amalgam into the prepared cavity.

An instrument used to pack/condense amalgam firmly into the cavity preparation.

An instrument used to shape and contour amalgam to anatomy after condensation.

A smooth-tipped instrument used to smooth and adapt the margins/surface of an amalgam restoration.

Forms a temporary wall for a Class II restoration so material can be packed and properly contoured at the proximal surface.

Placed at the gingival margin to hold the matrix band tight and establish good contact, preventing an overhang.

Marking paper used to identify high spots and check the patient's occlusion (bite) after a restoration.

Placed in a deep preparation to protect and insulate the pulp from thermal, chemical, and mechanical irritation.

A cavity in the pits and fissures — occlusal surfaces of posterior teeth and lingual pits of anteriors.

A cavity on the proximal (mesial/distal) surfaces of posterior teeth.

A cavity on the proximal surfaces of anterior teeth, not involving the incisal edge.

A cavity on the proximal surface of an anterior tooth that does involve the incisal edge.

A cavity in the gingival (cervical) third of the facial or lingual surface of any tooth.

A non-removable replacement that anchors artificial teeth to natural teeth or implants (abutments).

The artificial tooth in a fixed bridge that replaces the missing natural tooth.

The natural tooth (or implant) that supports and anchors a fixed bridge.

A short-term crown that protects the prepared tooth while the permanent crown is being fabricated in the lab.

A removable appliance that replaces some teeth and is held by metal clasps on remaining natural teeth.

A removable appliance that replaces all the teeth in an arch.

An irreversible hydrocolloid used for study models and preliminary impressions; mixed with water to a paste.

The dental specialty treating the dental pulp and root canals (e.g., root canal therapy).

The soft tissue inside the tooth containing nerves and blood vessels; the 'living' core.

The specialty treating the supporting structures of teeth (gingiva, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone).

Measured in millimeters; a healthy sulcus is about 1–3 mm. Greater depths suggest periodontal pocketing.

Apical migration of the gum margin that exposes root surface; recorded with probing depth for attachment level.

A professional dental cleaning to remove plaque, calculus, and stains and prevent disease.

Hardened, mineralized plaque on the teeth that must be removed with instruments (scaling).

A thin resin coating placed in the pits and fissures of posterior teeth to prevent decay.

Strengthens enamel and helps prevent and remineralize early caries.

The high-volume evacuator (HVE) removes large amounts of fluid/debris and aerosols; the saliva ejector provides low-volume continuous suction.

Isolates the tooth, keeps the field dry, improves visibility, and protects the patient from debris and aspiration.

Delivers air, water, or a spray to rinse, dry, and improve visibility of the operating field.

A thin, sharp-tipped instrument used to detect caries, calculus, and irregularities on tooth surfaces.

A blunt, millimeter-marked instrument used to measure sulcus/pocket depths around teeth.

Indirect vision, retraction of tissue (cheek/tongue), and reflection of light onto the field.

Locking or non-locking pliers used to carry and place small items like cotton pellets into and out of the mouth.

A spoon-shaped hand instrument used to remove soft, decayed dentin (caries) from a preparation.

A water-cooled handpiece running at very high rpm used to cut enamel and remove decay.

A slower handpiece used for caries removal, polishing, and refining a preparation.

Liner (thin, protects pulp), base (thicker, insulates/supports), cement (luting agent that bonds restorations like crowns).

The gum tissue surrounding and protecting the teeth and alveolar bone.

Parotid, submandibular, and sublingual glands.

The crown (above the gumline, covered by enamel) and the root (below the gumline, covered by cementum).

Enamel — the highly mineralized outer covering of the tooth crown.

The bulk of the tooth beneath enamel and cementum; it contains tubules and surrounds the pulp.

The mineralized tissue covering the root surface; anchors the periodontal ligament fibers.

Connective tissue fibers that attach the tooth root (cementum) to the alveolar bone.

The first permanent molars (the '6-year molars'), erupting around age 6.

Most common dental office emergency; place the patient supine (or Trendelenburg) and ensure airway and oxygen.

They establish a baseline and reveal conditions (e.g., hypertension) that influence safe dental treatment.

Polishing the clinical crowns to remove plaque and stains; it does not remove calculus.

Chart accurately, completely, and contemporaneously; never alter records improperly — the chart is a legal document.

Charted as missing/absent because it never developed (vs. an extracted tooth, which is marked differently).

The maximum, habitual intercuspation (bite) when the upper and lower teeth are fully meshed together.

Overbite = vertical overlap of upper over lower anterior teeth; overjet = horizontal projection of upper beyond lower.

Have anesthetic ready, ensure aspiration before injection to avoid intravascular delivery, and monitor the patient.

Anesthetizes the inferior alveolar nerve, numbing the lower teeth, lip, and chin on that side.

Deposits anesthetic near the tooth apex; works on upper teeth because the maxillary bone is more porous.

One of four sections of the dentition — maxillary right/left and mandibular right/left, divided at the midline.

One of six sections of the dentition (anterior and posterior segments of each arch).

Primary teeth are lettered A–T: A is the maxillary right second molar, T is the mandibular right second molar.

16 teeth per arch — 8 on each side: 2 incisors, 1 canine, 2 premolars, 3 molars.

The tip of the root, where the nerves and blood vessels enter through the apical foramen.

The shallow groove between the free gingiva and the tooth surface; probed to assess periodontal health.

Maxillary teeth are upper; mandibular teeth are lower. Always confirm arch and side before charting.

Composite is placed and cured in thin increments to ensure complete polymerization and reduce shrinkage.

Etch-rinse uses separate phosphoric-acid etching; self-etch primers combine etching and priming in fewer steps.

A tooth-colored material that bonds chemically to tooth structure and releases fluoride; used as a base, liner, or restorative.

Stock trays (preformed) and custom trays (made on a patient model) hold impression material against the arch.

A record of how the upper and lower teeth occlude, used by the lab to mount models correctly.

Powder mixed with water that sets into a hard model when poured into an impression.

Anatomical crown = the enamel-covered part; clinical crown = the part visible in the mouth above the gingiva.

The area where the roots of a multi-rooted tooth divide; furcation involvement indicates periodontal bone loss.

Looseness of a tooth, graded by degree; increased mobility can indicate periodontal disease or trauma.

The branch focused on restoring teeth damaged by caries or trauma — fillings, crowns, and related procedures.

The specialty that replaces missing teeth with fixed or removable prostheses (crowns, bridges, dentures, implants).

The specialty performing extractions, implants, and surgery of the mouth, jaws, and face.

The specialty correcting tooth and jaw alignment (malocclusion) with appliances such as braces and aligners.

The specialty providing dental care for infants, children, and adolescents.

A titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone to support a crown, bridge, or denture.

To confirm the needle is not in a blood vessel, preventing the anesthetic from being delivered intravascularly.

Dental caries (tooth decay) — caused by acid from bacterial plaque demineralizing enamel.

A sticky bacterial film on teeth; if not removed it mineralizes into calculus and contributes to caries and gum disease.

Gingivitis is reversible gum inflammation; periodontitis adds irreversible loss of bone and attachment.

Patient lies back nearly flat for most procedures, allowing ergonomic access for the seated team.

The patient's voluntary agreement to treatment after being told the risks, benefits, and alternatives.

Keep patient information confidential at all times; protected health information is shared only on a need-to-know basis.

The feel of the explorer tip catching on a surface — used to detect caries, calculus, and rough margins.

Depths are recorded at multiple sites per tooth (e.g., six points) to map the pocket around the whole tooth.

The pre-filled glass cartridge of local anesthetic that loads into the aspirating syringe.

The diameter of the needle; a higher gauge number means a thinner needle.

A cord packed into the gingival sulcus to displace tissue and control fluid before a crown impression.

Treat ALL human blood, body fluids, secretions, and non-intact skin/mucous membranes as potentially infectious for every patient.

Hand hygiene — handwashing or alcohol-based hand rub — performed before and after every patient contact.

At least 15–20 seconds with soap and water (longer for a surgical scrub).

When hands are NOT visibly soiled. If hands are visibly dirty or contaminated, wash with soap and water.

Gown → mask → eyewear/face shield → gloves.

Gloves → eyewear/face shield → gown → mask (remove the dirtiest item first; gloves come off first).

Side shields, to protect the eyes from splatter, aerosols, and debris during patient care.

Between patients and whenever it becomes wet or visibly contaminated (it loses filtration when damp).

Puncture-resistant gloves worn for instrument cleaning and handling chemical disinfectants — not exam gloves.

Must be offered to at-risk employees within 10 working days of assignment, at no cost to the employee.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and HIV.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) — it is the most readily transmitted of the three, which is why HBV vaccination matters.

Airborne — via tiny droplet nuclei that stay suspended; requires airborne (respiratory) precautions.

Pathogen → reservoir/source → portal of exit → mode of transmission → portal of entry → susceptible host. Breaking any link stops it.

Devices that isolate or remove a hazard — e.g., sharps containers, self-sheathing needles, biohazard labels.

Behaviors that reduce exposure — e.g., one-handed needle recapping (scoop), not bending needles, proper hand hygiene.

Place immediately into a labeled, puncture-resistant, leak-proof, color-coded sharps container — never recap by hand.

When it reaches the fill line (about 3/4 full) — before it overfills.

Items that can release blood/saliva if compressed, caked with dried blood, sharps, and extracted teeth or tissue.

A process that destroys ALL microorganisms, including bacterial spores.

Destroys many or all pathogenic microorganisms but NOT necessarily bacterial spores; used on surfaces, not critical instruments.

Penetrate soft tissue or bone (e.g., surgical burs, scalpels) — must be heat-sterilized or single-use.

Contact mucous membranes but don't penetrate (e.g., mouth mirror) — heat-sterilize when possible.

Contact only intact skin (e.g., BP cuff) — intermediate- or low-level disinfection is sufficient.

Receiving/cleaning → packaging → sterilization → storage — moving from dirty to clean to sterile.

Bioburden (blood, debris) insulates microbes and blocks the sterilant; sterilization fails on dirty instruments.

Uses cavitation (sound-wave bubbles) to loosen and remove debris from instruments before sterilization — safer than hand-scrubbing.

Steam under pressure (the autoclave) — typically 121°C (250°F) at 15 psi for the rated cycle time.

Uses high heat without moisture; good for items corroded by steam, but needs higher temperatures and longer times.

Uses a chemical-solution vapor under heat/pressure; preserves sharp edges (less rust) but requires ventilation.

Bacterial spores run through the sterilizer to verify it actually kills spores — the only true test of sterilization. Run at least weekly.

Tape/markings that change color to show a package was exposed to heat — confirms processing, NOT sterilization.

Placed inside a package; responds to time, temperature, and (for steam) moisture to better reflect sterilization conditions.

Disposable covers (plastic/foil) placed on hard-to-clean surfaces and changed between patients to prevent contamination.

Clean (remove bioburden) first, then disinfect with an EPA-registered hospital disinfectant — you cannot disinfect a dirty surface.

Intermediate-level (tuberculocidal, kills TB and most pathogens) and low-level — chosen by the contamination risk of the surface.

Practices that prevent contamination by pathogens — keeping clean items clean and avoiding cross-contamination.

Spread of microorganisms from one person, surface, or instrument to another.

Biofilm can form in waterlines; flush lines and use treatments so water meets CDC quality standards (≤500 CFU/mL).

Wash the area with soap and water, report the exposure immediately, and follow the facility's exposure-control plan and evaluation.

A written plan each dental office must have describing how it protects workers from bloodborne pathogen exposure; reviewed annually.

A document giving hazard, handling, and first-aid information for each chemical in the office (Hazard Communication Standard).

Personal protective equipment — gloves, masks, protective eyewear, and gowns — worn to create a barrier against exposure.

Spatter = larger particles that fall quickly; droplet = small respiratory droplets (short range); airborne = tiny nuclei that linger (e.g., TB).

Always perform hand hygiene before donning and after removing gloves — gloves are not a substitute for handwashing.

Identify latex-sensitive patients/staff and use nonlatex (nitrile/vinyl) gloves and latex-free supplies.

Heat-tolerant instruments are sterilized; heat-sensitive items are single-use or high-level disinfected per manufacturer instructions.

Standard precautions apply to ALL patients; transmission-based (contact/droplet/airborne) are added for specific known infections.

Single-use devices are used once and discarded; reusable devices must be properly cleaned and sterilized between patients.

A solution used to keep instruments moist before cleaning so debris doesn't dry and harden on them.

Publishes the guidelines for infection prevention in dental settings that the standard of care follows.

Enforces workplace safety, including the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard and Hazard Communication, to protect employees.

Remove the sterilizer from use, repeat the biological (spore) test, and do not use processed items until the cause is found and a passing test confirms function.

Rapid steam sterilization of an unwrapped item for immediate use; used only when there is no alternative.

Wet packs wick microorganisms inward ('wicking'), compromising the sterile barrier — packages must be dry before handling/storage.

Event-related: a package stays sterile until its integrity is compromised; time-related: it expires on a set date.

A blood test confirming the worker developed protective antibodies (immunity) after the HBV vaccine series.

Use a one-handed scoop technique or a mechanical device — never a two-handed recap, which risks a needlestick.

Lower than HBV/HCV per single exposure, but still requires immediate reporting and post-exposure evaluation/prophylaxis.

Hepatitis B, influenza, MMR, varicella, Tdap, and others per CDC guidance for healthcare personnel.

Regulated waste containers and contaminated equipment must carry the orange-red biohazard symbol/label.

Destroys all microorganisms except large numbers of bacterial spores; used for heat-sensitive semicritical items when sterilization isn't possible.

Spray-wipe-spray (or wipe-discard-wipe): clean to remove bioburden, then apply disinfectant for the full contact (kill) time.

The time the surface must stay wet with the product to kill the microbes listed on the label.

Keep nails short, avoid artificial nails (harbor microbes), and cover cuts; intact skin is a barrier to infection.

Handpieces and ultrasonic scalers create fine aerosols (linger in air) and larger spatter; both require PPE and source control.

Teeth containing amalgam are NOT placed in regular biohazard or general trash — handle as amalgam/special waste to protect the environment.

Critical and semicritical instruments are STERILIZED; environmental surfaces are DISINFECTED.

Confirms the package was exposed to a heat process — it does NOT prove the contents are sterile (only a spore test does).

Having coughing patients wear a mask, use tissues, and perform hand hygiene to limit spread of respiratory pathogens.

As Low As Reasonably Achievable — keep radiation exposure to patients and operators as low as possible.

The receptor is placed parallel to the long axis of the tooth and the central ray is aimed perpendicular to both — the preferred, most accurate technique.

The central ray is aimed perpendicular to an imaginary line that bisects the angle between the tooth's long axis and the receptor.

Detecting interproximal (between-teeth) caries and evaluating the height of alveolar bone (crestal bone).

The entire tooth from crown to root apex plus surrounding bone — used to evaluate the root and periapical area.

An extraoral image showing both arches, the jaws, the TMJs, and sinuses on one film — broad coverage, less fine detail.

A larger intraoral film showing a broad area of the maxilla or mandible; the patient bites on the receptor.

Insufficient vertical angulation (too flat) in the bisecting technique — the image looks too long.

Excessive vertical angulation (too steep) — the image looks too short.

Incorrect horizontal angulation — the central ray was not directed through the contacts, so proximal surfaces overlap.

A clear, curved unexposed area on the film caused by the position-indicating device (PID) not covering the whole receptor.

The aiming tube that directs the x-ray beam; rectangular PIDs reduce patient exposure by limiting beam size.

Restricting the size and shape of the x-ray beam (e.g., a rectangular collimator) to reduce patient exposure.

Aluminum filters remove low-energy, nonuseful x-rays from the beam, reducing patient skin dose.

A device (e.g., Rinn XCP) that holds the receptor parallel to the tooth and aligns the beam — reduces cone cuts and retakes.

Films are mounted with the raised (embossed) dot toward the viewer; you view the films as if facing the patient.

Appears on the viewer's LEFT (you are facing the patient, like shaking hands).

Radiation deflected from its path after striking matter; it travels in all directions and is the main operator exposure source.

Primary = the useful beam from the tube; secondary = produced when the beam hits matter; scatter = a type of secondary that's deflected.

The gray (Gy). (The traditional unit is the rad.)

The sievert (Sv). (The traditional unit is the rem.)

Effects (like cancer) with no threshold dose — any exposure carries some probability of risk; severity is not dose-dependent.

Effects that occur above a threshold dose and worsen with dose (e.g., skin erythema, cataracts).

Cells that are young, rapidly dividing, and undifferentiated (e.g., bone marrow, reproductive cells) are most sensitive to radiation.

The total amount of radiation a person absorbs over a lifetime — exposure adds up, so minimize every dose.

A device worn by dental personnel to monitor their occupational radiation exposure over time.

On the trunk of the body (at the waist/chest), outside the lead apron — never on the same hand or near the beam.

The maximum permissible dose for occupationally exposed workers is 50 mSv (5 rem) per year.

1 mSv (0.1 rem) per year — far lower than the occupational limit.

Stand at least 6 feet from the patient/tube head during exposure (or behind a barrier).

Stand 90–135 degrees to the primary beam and at least 6 feet away — never in the path of the primary beam.

Shields the patient's trunk and reproductive organs from scatter radiation; used for all exposures.

Protects the radiosensitive thyroid gland from scatter; especially important for children and women of childbearing age.

A thyroid collar would block part of the beam and obscure the image, so it is not used for panoramic radiography.

Controls the energy/penetrating power of the x-ray beam and affects image contrast (higher kVp = lower contrast, longer scale).

Controls the number of x-rays produced (beam quantity); with time it determines density of the image.

The duration of x-ray production; with mA it controls the total quantity of radiation (and image density).

The overall darkness of the image; controlled mainly by mA and exposure time (and kVp).

The difference between light and dark areas; controlled mainly by kVp.

Radiation intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance — doubling the distance cuts intensity to one-fourth.

Film, photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plates, and direct digital sensors (CCD/CMOS).

Digital sensors need less radiation than film and give an immediate image with no chemical processing.

Radiolucent = dark areas (less dense, e.g., pulp, sinuses); radiopaque = light/white areas (dense, e.g., enamel, metal).

A radiolucent (dark) area near the mandibular premolar apices that can be mistaken for periapical pathology.

Use the fastest receptor (digital/F-speed film), rectangular collimation, and a lead apron/thyroid collar (plus avoid retakes).

Operator error — cone cuts, wrong angulation, or receptor placement errors; retakes double the patient's dose.

No one should hold the receptor or stay in the room during exposure unless absolutely necessary and properly shielded.

Radiographs are ordered based on the patient's individual needs and history — not routinely — to keep exposure justified (ALARA).

Dental radiographs with a lead apron and thyroid collar are considered safe when necessary; defer elective imaging per clinical judgment.

The time between radiation exposure and the appearance of biological effects.

Natural sources like radon, cosmic rays, and terrestrial/earth radiation that everyone is exposed to daily.

A cathode (filament that produces electrons) and an anode (tungsten target the electrons strike to produce x-rays).

The center-most portion of the x-ray beam, aimed to achieve correct angulation onto the receptor.

Vertical angulation (up/down) controls elongation/foreshortening; horizontal angulation (side to side) controls overlapping.

Underexposure or underdevelopment, or too low mA/time — the image appears too light.

Overexposure or overdevelopment, or too high mA/time — the image appears too dark.

Appears when film is exposed backward (the lead foil's embossed side faces the beam) — reposition the film correctly.

Two images on one film/sensor area from exposing the same receptor twice — separate exposed and unexposed receptors.

Patient, tube head, or receptor movement during exposure — stabilize all three and re-expose.

An overall gray, low-contrast image from stray radiation, light leaks, old/heat-stored film, or chemical contamination.

A cracked, network appearance from a sudden large temperature change between processing solutions (film).

Developer makes the latent image visible (blackens exposed silver); fixer removes unexposed silver and hardens the emulsion.

Faster film/digital sensors require less radiation for a diagnostic image, lowering patient dose (ALARA).

Rectangular collimation matches the receptor shape and exposes far less tissue than a round beam — preferred for dose reduction.

A complete set of intraoral radiographs (periapicals + bitewings) showing all teeth and surrounding structures.

Oriented tall to capture more bone height; useful for patients with periodontal bone loss.

Children are more radiosensitive; use shielding, fast receptors, and order images only when clinically justified.

Panoramic imaging is often used to evaluate the jaws, residual ridges, and any retained roots before dentures or implants.

The thickness of material (aluminum) that reduces the beam's intensity by half — a measure of beam quality.

Packets of electromagnetic energy that make up the x-ray beam; they have no mass or charge and can ionize tissue.

Radiation with enough energy to remove electrons from atoms (ionize), which can damage cells and DNA.

Genetic effects damage reproductive (germ) cells and may pass to offspring; somatic effects damage the exposed individual's body cells.

Time (minimize), distance (maximize), and shielding (use barriers/lead) to reduce exposure.

A protective wall/barrier absorbs scatter radiation, keeping operator exposure as low as reasonably achievable.

A longer PID increases the target-to-receptor distance, producing a more parallel beam and a sharper, less-magnified image.

Place the receptor low and lingual against the floor of the mouth, parallel to the teeth, with a holder for the paralleling technique.

kVp, mA, exposure time, collimation, filtration, receptor speed, and number of exposures all influence patient dose.