California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

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Prepare for the California Registered Dental Assistant Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions featuring hints and explanations. Gear up for your certification today!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What is the primary reason a surgical face mask must be used during a dental procedure?

To keep the patient calm
To avoid direct contact with patients
To protect the DHCP from exposure to spatter
To prevent the spread of oral diseases

The correct answer is: To protect the DHCP from exposure to spatter

Surgical face masks are a crucial part of personal protective equipment (PPE) worn by dental healthcare personnel (DHCP). They are designed to protect the DHCP from exposure to spatter (spray or splatter from the patient's mouth) which can contain blood, saliva, and other potentially infectious materials. Option A (to keep the patient calm) may be beneficial but it is not the primary reason for using a face mask. Option B (to avoid direct contact with patients) is a valid reason but not the primary one. Option D (to prevent spread of oral diseases) is important in general, but specifically in a dental procedure, the primary concern is preventing exposure to spatter.