Health ProfessionsTest + Skills

Dental Science

A 50-question dental assisting test, then chairside skills such as instrument identification, anesthetic syringe assembly, alginate impressions and PPE for the top scorers.

The AI judge does not score skill stations. Use the practice test for Round One.

About this event

Dental Science is a solo two-round event for the Secondary and Postsecondary/Collegiate divisions, sponsored by the American Dental Education Association. Round One is a 50-question multiple-choice test in 60 minutes drawn from Modern Dental Assisting (Robinson) and Dental Instruments: A Pocket Guide (Boyd). Chairside assisting and instruments, including restorative and lab materials, make up 30 percent of the test; the dental team and specialties, dental anatomy, pathology, tooth morphology, infection control, radiology and medical emergencies each take 10 percent. Top scorers advance to Round Two, a secret scenario drawn from eight skills: identifying 15 dental instruments by name and use (which may be administered with the written test), assembling and disassembling an aspirating anesthetic syringe, seating and dismissing a patient for a periodic oral evaluation, placing and removing surface barriers, oral hygiene instruction for brushing and flossing, mixing and handling alginate impressions, operating the ultrasonic cleaner, and donning and doffing PPE. Skills run 5 to 15 minutes. You bring non-latex gloves, utility gloves, mask, gown and eye protection. A 70 percent skill score (excluding the test and instrument ID) is required to place; test and skill scores are added and ties go to the higher test score.

Test day

What to expect

Round One test, then skill stations

Round One is a 50-question test in 60 minutes; the top scorers advance to Round Two, the skill stations. Official format: 50-question test, 60 minutes, then Round Two skill scenarios of 5 to 15 minutes each for top scorers.

Written from the test plan

Questions follow the event's published test plan, section by section, and are written from the listed reference texts. Practice questions here are drawn in the same proportions.

How you advance

How many advance from regionals to states and on to the International Leadership Conference (ILC) depends on your association's rules. Study the official test plan: it lists each section and its share of the test.

What judges score

Skill I: Dental Instrument Identification, name and purpose of 15 instruments (15 minutes)Skill II: Assembly and Disassembly of the Aspirating Anesthetic Syringe (7 minutes)Skill III: Seat, Prepare, and Dismiss Patient for Periodic Oral Evaluation (10 minutes)Skill IV: Placing and Removing Surface Barriers (7 minutes)Skill V: Oral Hygiene Instruction: Brushing and Flossing (7 minutes)Skill VI: Preparation, Manipulation, Delivery, and Handling of Alginate Impressions (7 minutes)Skill VII: Operating the Ultrasonic Cleaner (5 minutes)Skill VIII: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Donning and Doffing (5 minutes)

What's on the test

The Dental Team, Dental Specialties, and History · 10%Dental Anatomy and Physiology · 10%Dental Pathology · 10%Tooth Morphology · 10%Infection Control / Occupational Health and Safety · 10%Chairside Assisting/Instruments (including restorative and laboratory materials) · 30%Radiology · 10%Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office · 10%

Study resources

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