2013 Dental Hygiene Examination Overview Southern Regional Testing Agency

Content Overview Present an eligible patient Choose one full quadrant to clean Optional: Choose up to four molars and/or premolars to clean if quadrant does not meet all calculus requirements Optional teeth must all be in the same quadrant and not in the selected quadrant Present full mouth radiographs Films of selected quadrant and additional teeth are evaluated for diagnostic quality Detect calculus Remove calculus without damaging surrounding soft tissue structures Accurately measure periodontal pocket depths Present patient for final evaluation free of excessive plaque, extrinsic stains, other debris, and with anesthesia record completed

Eligible Patient Not a dentist, dental hygienist, dental or dental hygiene student At least 18 years old No history of injectable bisphosphonate therapy Not allergic to latex Has physicians written clearance, if needed Is presented with a diagnostic-quality, full-mouth series of radiographs, including bitewings Not in the first or third trimester of pregnancy If the patient is found to be ineligible after check-in starts, the patient will be dismissed and the candidate will fail the examination

Quadrant Selection Must have at least six teeth Must have at least one molar If only one molar in the quadrant, an additional molar from another quadrant may be selected as an additional tooth in order to meet calculus requirements Must have at least one molar with a proximal contact If there is no molar with a proximal contact in the quadrant, this requirement may be met by selecting additional molars from a different quadrant Must be free of excessive soft debris

Optional Additional Teeth If the selected quadrant does not meet all requirements, additional molars and/or premolars from a different quadrant may be selected May select up to four additional molars and/or premolars Additional teeth must all be located in the same quadrant (not the selected quadrant) All additional teeth selected must be cleaned and may be evaluated for remaining calculus Choose additional teeth only if the selected quadrant does not meet all calculus requirements or does not have a molar with a proximal contact

Radiographs Present a full mouth set of radiographs including bitewings Must consist of films, depending on the number of bitewings needed Periapicals must be no more than three years old; Bitewings no more than one year old If films are of such poor quality that examiners cannot determine that they are an accurate depiction of the patient presented, the patient will be dismissed and the candidate will fail the examination Films of the selected quadrant and any additional teeth selected by the candidate will be evaluated for diagnostic quality

Calculus Detection Candidates will evaluate twelve surfaces in their selected quadrant and/or additional teeth for the presence or absence of calculus Surfaces are assigned by the examiners during check-in Candidates mark Yes if any type of calculus is present on the surface (light, moderate, heavy, chalky, black, grainy, etc.) It does not have to meet the definition of qualifying calculus for the detection exercise Candidates mark No if the surface is free of any type of calculus

Calculus Removal Selected quadrant and additional teeth must have at least twelve surfaces of qualifying calculus Easily detectable with the 11/12 explorer Definite bump Examiners evaluate the quadrant and additional teeth for qualifying calculus To earn the maximum number of points, the examiners must be able to locate 12 surfaces with qualifying calculus Of those 12, eight must be located on posterior teeth (molars and/or premolars) Of those eight, five must be on proximal surfaces (M or D) Of those five, three must be on proximals of molars

Calculus Removal Candidates clean all surfaces of all teeth in their selected quadrant and any additional teeth selected After the candidate completes the partial oral prophylaxis, examiners evaluate the surfaces where qualifying calculus was located to determine if any calculus is remaining on the surface Candidates do not know which twelve surfaces will be evaluated If five or more surfaces are found to have remaining calculus, an additional 15 point deduction is assessed

Periodontal Assessment Candidates will measure and record pocket depths on six surfaces of two teeth Examiners assign one anterior and one posterior tooth for the periodontal assessment These may or may not be within the candidates selection of teeth The candidates measurements must be within + or – 1mm of the median of the measurements made by three examiners on the same surfaces Measurements are made on the ML, L, DL, DF, F, and MF surfaces of the two teeth

Final Case Presentation For final case presentation, the examiners evaluate the following criteria: Area of the mouth treated is free of remaining visible plaque Area of the mouth treated is free of extrinsic stains Area of mouth treated is free of prophy paste or other residues Anesthesia record is complete

Examiner Agreement Three examiners independently evaluate each phase of the examination In order for points to be withheld, at least two of the three examiners must independently assess the same error Examiners do not know the identification of the candidate (except by candidate SRTA ID number) or what school the candidate attends Examiner evaluations are entered independently into hand- held computer devices so that no examiner can view anothers information Examiners undergo calibration exercises prior to every examination so that each one is grading to the same standard

Points Initial case presentation Quadrant has a molar1 Quadrant has six teeth1 One molar has a proximal contact1 Patient free of excessive soft debris1 Calculus requirements Calculus requirements met: ( )5 RadiographsRadiographs diagnostic quality8 Calculus detection12 surfaces worth 1.5 points each18 Calculus removal 12 surfaces of qualifying calculus worth 4.5 points each If examiners verify five or more surfaces with remaining calculus, an additional 15 points will be deducted. 54 Periodontal assessment Six measurements worth one point each6 Minor tissue trauma Three points awarded if no minor tissue trauma is present The presence of four or more sites qualifies as major tissue trauma and automatic failure. 3 Final case presentation No visible plaque, extrinsic stains, prophy paste, or other debris. Anesthesia record is complete 2 Total100 Major tissue trauma or major infection control violation** 100-point deduction = automatic failure -100

Results Available in 2-3 business days after the examination is completed Candidates receive notification when results are ready Access results through SRTAs secure web site using candidate user name and password used during application

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