DENTAL ADVANTAGE HELPFUL HINTS FOR THE RDA PRACTICAL EXAM 1. Arrive early for the exam. Bring with you: *lab coat *protective eyewear *gloves *mask *optional flashlight and watch *deposit for rental kit and contract *current photo ID *letter from The Dental Board stating test date/time 2. When you pick up your rental kit, be sure to check it thoroughly. A check off sheet is provided to help you with this. It is important to know your kit. Ask for any last minute advise if needed. We are more than happy to help you with those last minute questions! 3. Prepare for a long day. While you may be taking the test for a short amount of time, this time is very stressful. You will spend a lot of time checking in and waiting. You may not feel as if you need the high energy snack we provide before the test, but you may appreciate it later. 4. Know your procedures!!! If you have taken a review class, you will be able to identify what an error looks like and how to correct it. This is a pass or fail exam and as long as you meet all of the criteria you will pass the RDA practical examination. 1
#8 TEMPORARY CROWN FABRICATION You will receive your #8 prepped tooth once you have entered the examination area. You will have a white virgin tooth in your typodont from your kit renter. When screwing the prepped tooth into the typodont during the exam, double check the alignment, using caution not to strip the screw. A preliminary impression can be done ahead of time. It is not a testable procedure so do not waste your test time on this. We provide a stint that you can use and we provide you with additional putty to make your own stint as well. Remember: no water is available during the exam for alginate. Note that the prepped tooth has margins that are supragingival. You do not want to extend your temporary beyond that. Your temporary must adapt to the prepared margins of the #8 prep all the way around the tooth. Figure 1 2
Be familiar with the mix of your bisacrylic material. Some mixes are 10:1, some are 4:1 etc. Bleed a small amount of the material onto a mixing pad before you attach a mixing tip: this will assure that both sides of the cartridge are flowing freely. Visible proper occlusion. They will not articulate the typodont. Recreate proximal contacts. Figure 2 Assure that your temporary has proper contouring. Figure 3 3
Double check for excess (and difficult to see) material that may be on the facial and lingual of nearby teeth. CEMENTATION OF YOUR #8 TEMPORARY The brand of the temporary cement used for this procedure is up to the assistant. Any temporary cement can be utilized for the cementation of your temporary crown, except for light cured cement. The most commonly used cement is IRM, Tempbond, Zone, etc. Using a very small amount of cement to do this procedure will make it much easier for you. Assure that any excess cement is thoroughly cleaned off, any remaining excess cement would be considered a failure. You will be graded on your ability to remove the cement only, the examiners will not remove your crown during the grading process. 4
TEMPORARY SEDATIVE RESTORATION FOR #19 DO / #30MOD Your #19DO or #30MOD prepped tooth will already be placed in the typodont by your kit renter. You will be tested on only one of these two teeth. Check your contacts ahead of time to assure you can easily place your toffelmeir and matrix during the exam. Proper use of a wedge and toffelmeir will make finishing the temporary restoration much easier. The missing wall(s) will be properly formed with a matrix that is placed correctly. Know what overfill and underfill look like. Overfill, within limits, will be acceptable unless the filling is higher than nearby teeth. Missing the margin at any point will be a failure. Be sure to double check the distal buccal margin on #19 or the mesial- buccal margin of tooth #30; as these are commonly missed areas. Figure 4 5
Too much material or material not mixed to the proper consistency will make filling and carving this restoration more time consuming than is necessary. Double check the margin to assure you have met it all around the cavity preparation. Occlusal View of tooth #30 Figure 5 Visible proper occlusion. 6
Attempt at a contact must be made. Figure 6 While perfect anatomy is not required, some is. The occlusal surface of the finished restoration should not have a flat appearance. The distal box on the tooth must be clearly defined, with no extra material on the sides of the box form. No voids. The blue of the prepared tooth should frame the white of the temporary restoration. Figure 7 7
If you begin to feel overwhelmed and nervous, take a moment to calm yourself. A few deep breaths may help. Positive and encouraging words before the exam from a friend or Dental Advantage will go a long way. A few positive words from yourself during the exam can give you the confidence you need to complete and pass this exam. You can do it!!!! Good Luck!! 8