32 teeth make up a permanent dentition. This includes 4 third molars or wisdom teeth. There are 20 baby teeth in primary dentition.

Canine teeth are sometimes called "eye teeth."  They are also called cuspids. Canine teeth are designed for cutting and tearing food.

Mesial is the closest proximal tooth surface toward the midline of the body. Occlusal, facial, and incisal are not proximal surfaces.

Eight premolars exist in a permanent dentition. There are two premolars in each of the four quadrants of the mouth.

The mouth is divided into four quadrants. Quadrants are the four parts when a mouth is divided into four sections: upper right, lower right, upper left and lower left. There are two arches. They are maxillary (upper) and mandibular (lower). Posterior teeth are located in the back of the mouth while anterior teeth are located in the front of the mouth.

Exfoliation, resorption, and shedding are terms associated with the loss of primary teeth. Once the root of a primary tooth has resorbed, the tooth will become loose and fall out. This process is called exfoliation or shedding. The permanent tooth will then be able to erupt into the oral cavity.

Labial and buccal are both facial surfaces. A labial surface is the facial surface closest to the lips. The buccal surface is the facial surface closest to the inner cheek. The labial surface does not contact the tongue or palate.

There are two dental arches. The maxillary or upper arch is immovable because it is attached to the skull. The TMJ allows the mandibular or lower arch to move up and down, forwards and backwards, and from side to side.

Tooth #12 is the maxillary left first premolar. Tooth #12 is the first premolar or bicuspid to erupt in the maxillary left arch according to the Universal System of tooth designation.

Maxillary left second premolar is #25 when using the ISO system of tooth recording. Tooth #25 is the second premolar or bicuspid to erupt in the maxillary left arch using the International Standards Organization system of tooth recording. This system is not frequently used in the United States. The most common tooth numbering system used in the United States is the Universal Numbering System.

Dental assistants are permitted to take dental radiographs as well as impressions. They may also pour impressions and trim models. Only licensed dentists and licensed dental hygienists are permitted to scale teeth with a cavitron.

Sodium hypochlorite and files are used to clean the canals of a tooth during root canal therapy. Gutta percha is used to fill the canals. Rubber dams may be used during many different dental procedures, but must be used during root canal therapy appointments.

Class II, Class III, and Class IV restorations all involve interproximal contact areas and require a matrix band or celluloid matrix strip to restore the missing wall. Class I restorations involve a single surface.

Intermediate or temporary restorations may be placed when a patient needs time to save for a permanent restoration or is waiting for their insurance benefits to renew. Intermediate restorations may be used temporarily to determine if a tooth needs more extensive treatment. They may also be used while waiting for a permanent restoration to be fabricated in a dental lab.

In-office whitening may take as little as one hour. Teeth treated in this way may whiten up to 5 shades. Trays with bleaching gel, brush-on whitening, and whitening strips are all less expensive at-home treatments. These methods require several days of treatment to achieve the same results as in-office whitening.

The universal matrix and retainer are used for restorations on permanent molars and pre-molars. This system does not work as well on primary molars due to their shape and small size. T-bands and spot-welded bands fit primary molars. There are no pre-molars in the primary dentition.

A healthy sulcus measurement is 3mm or less. Deeper pockets indicate the loss of epithelial attachment, bone, and indicate the presence of periodontal disease.

Sexually transmitted is not a mode of disease transmission. It is a type of transmitted disease. Diseases may be transmitted through body fluids, the air, or indirectly from cross contamination.

Hep B immunization is an effective vaccine that healthcare workers should be given to prevent the risk of occupational exposure. OSHA requirements state that employers must offer the Hepatitis B vaccination at no cost to their employees who are at risk of exposure. Hepatitis A is the least serious type of Hepatitis. It is transmitted orally from objects that are contaminated with the fecal matter of an infected person. Vaccines for Hepatitis C are currently under development.

Legionnaire's Disease can be spread through aerosols as well as aspirating contaminated water. It is not spread from person to person like Hepatitis C, Tuberculosis, and Primary Herpes.

Acute infections are often very quick to appear and have severe symptoms. Unlike chronic and latent infections, acute infections normally have a short duration.

Oral candidiasis is a yeast infection of the mouth, sometimes called “thrush.” It is caused by the candida fungus.  A weakened immune system, diabetes, xerostomia, or antibiotic use may cause this naturally occurring oral fungus to be become overgrown resulting in an infection.

Pathogens are organisms that are capable of causing disease conditions. Bacteria and viruses can be pathogenic but are not always. A syndrome is a group of conditions that occur together.

Tetanus, also called "lock jaw" is a disease that is caused by spore bacteria. Hepatitis B and HIV are caused by viruses.

Impressions, models, and all lab cases must be disinfected before they are sent to dental labs to prevent disease transmission. Microorganisms may also be transmitted to the community through contaminated clothing and hair. Uniforms worn during patient treatment should not be worn outside of the dental office.

A patient may not know that they have an infectious disease or may not inform the dental team that they have a disease. For this reason, Universal/Standard precautions must be followed for all patients. The CDC issues evidence-based recommendations for health-related matters. OSHA is a regulatory agency that issues standards designed to protect the health of employees. The exposure control plan describes how the dental office complies with OSHA's Blood-Borne Pathogens Standard.

There are three occupational exposure categories. Dental personnel who are regularly exposed to blood and saliva fall under category I. Those who are occasionally exposed are in category II. Category III represents those who are never exposed to blood or saliva.

All disposable sharps and broken glass must be disposed of in puncture-resistant, leak proof, closable, biohazard labeled sharps containers. They must be located as close as possible to the area of immediate disposal. Many dental offices have a sharps container in each operatory and in the central sterilization area.

OSHA's Blood-Borne Pathogen Standard requires employers to provide at no charge to employees personal protective equipment (PPE) which includes surgical masks, protective clothing, disposable gloves, utility gloves and protective eyewear.

Sterile surgical gloves are worn during invasive procedures such as periodontal and oral surgery. Examination gloves are the most frequently worn gloves during routine patient treatment. Overgloves may be worn over contaminated exam gloves to prevent cross contamination. Utility gloves are worn while processing contaminated instruments.

Hazardous waste poses a danger to humans or the environment. Mercury and other toxic chemicals fall under this category. State and local regulations must be followed when disposing of hazardous waste.

Items that do not come in contact with blood or saliva like mixing pads, empty containers and paper towels are considered general waste and may be disposed of in covered plastic or metal containers.

Air-borne pathogens cannot penetrate skin. Blood-borne pathogens may enter the body through a break in the skin, or through the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth.

Latent infections such as cold sores lay dormant until certain conditions such as an illness or stress cause an outbreak. Chronic infections are present for a long duration. Acute infections may be severe but are of short duration. Opportunistic infections occur in people with compromised resistance, such as patients with diabetes, autoimmune disease or the elderly.

Panoramic films allow the entire dentition to be viewed on a single, large film. Occlusal and Cephalometric radiographs only show a section of the dentition.

Panoramic film is not a major component of a panoramic x-ray unit. The main components are the tubehead, head positioner and exposure controls.

Electronic sensors are used in lieu of standard x-ray films when recording images of a patient's teeth. While standard films can have their image scanned into an electronic program, they are not by definition, digital x-rays.

FMX series inflict more radiation on a patient because they require multiple exposures for 18 to 20 films. A PA is one film. A bitewing series consists of 2 to 4 films. A panoramic image is not intraoral.

Having the patient place their tongue on the roof of their mouth during a panoramic x-ray prevents the appearance of a large radiolucent area near the palate on the processed x-ray.

Sensors are more sensitive with digital radiography than traditional x-ray films, allowing the exposure time to be less, reducing radiation.

Bitewings and periapical images show a small section of the dentition. Panoramic images display the entire dentition. Panoramic radiographs are extraoral images, not intraoral.

Tooth #18 and tooth #20 have been treated with root canal therapy. The material used to fill the canals after the nerves were removed can be seen on the radiograph as white lines going down the roots of the teeth. There are also several root canal treated teeth on the maxillary arch.

A pontic is the artificial tooth that replaces a natural tooth that has been lost. Every bridge will have a minimum of 1 pontic. The pontic on this bridge is replacing tooth #19. The bridge is supported by two abutments (#18 and #20) that support and retain the bridge.

Intraoral sensors are waterproofed by the manufacturer, but because they cannot be sterilized, they must have a disposable barrier placed on them prior to use with each patient.

Bitewings, panoramic, periapical, and occlusal radiographs display 2D images. Cone beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) displays the head and neck in 3 dimensions. This is very helpful when planning implant placement, 3rd molar extractions, and other surgeries.

Size 0 is the smallest film/sensor size and is recommended for small mouths. Children with mixed dentition may be able to tolerate size 1 or 2.

Although several tools may be used as aids in capturing radiographic images, the EndoRay holder was specifically designed for endodontic procedures. Filling materials and instruments like files that protrude from the tooth do not have to be removed when using this tool.

The initial radiation that comes from an x-ray tube is primary radiation. Once contact is made with skin it becomes secondary radiation. Scatter radiation is a form of secondary radiation, and is dangerous to the patient and the operator.

The thyroid gland is highly sensitive to scatter radiation. A lead apron with a thyroid collar must be used on all patients during radiographic procedures.

Neither the patient or operator should hold an x-ray film or sensor while taking dental radiographs. This will unnecessarily expose their fingers and hand to dangerous radiation. Many tools are available to safely hold sensors and film.