RDA LAW AND ETHICS PRACTICE
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
The patient insists on replacing all of her amalgam restorations with a non-mercury
alternative. The patient is exercising which of the following ethical principles? - Answer-
Autonomy
The receptionist brings in her 18 year old son to the oral surgeon's office to her his third
molars removed. The oral surgeon sends a request for payment from the receptionist's
dental insurance company but doesn't charge the receptionist the required co-pay.
Which of the following ethical principles has the oral surgeon violated? - Answer-
Veracity
The dentist does a 3 surface composite restoration on a patient who is a vice president
of a company in Silicon Valley that is doing very well. The dentist performs a similar
procedure on the next patient who is working for a start-up company out of a garage.
The dentist charges the vice president twice the amount that the second patient for the
same procedure. Which of the following ethical principles is the dentist violating? -
Answer- Veracity
The patient has used all of her dental insurance benefits for the year. Subsequently, the
patient comes into the office for an emergency root canal and the dentist tells the
financial coordinator to bill the root canal the following year since the patient has already
used up their dental insurance for that year. Which of the following is the dentist
violating? - Answer- Veracity
The dentist advertising the name if his company as "No Pain Dental Office". Which of
the following ethical principles is the dentist violating? - Answer- Veracity
The pre-doctoral dental student went to UC Davis for a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical
Engineering. Subsequently, attends and graduates from a dental school. The dental
student opens a dental implant office and advertises in a local newspaper the Electrical
Engineering degree along with the DDS degree. Which of the following ethical principles
is the dentist violating? - Answer- Veracity
The dentist has just explained to the patient that she needs a root canal then leaves to
take a phone call. When the dental assistant arrives to the treatment room to set up for
,the procedure and the patient starts crying. The dental assistants comforts the patient
and explains the procedure so the patient feels better and consents to the procedure.
Which of the following ethical principles did the dental assistant apply? - Answer-
Compassion
Dental staff join doctors without borders and go to a 3rd world country for a month.
Which ethical principle is being following? - Answer- professionalism
The dental staff told by the dentist to perform procedures which are documented in the
dental practice act that the duties are only duties that should be done by the dentist.
Which ethical principle is the dentist violating? - Answer- Justice
The pt is visiting the U.S for the first time from another country. The pt uses a twig from
a plant in their country to clean their teeth. The dental hygienist sees no harm done to
the pt's teeth or gums other than the need to floss. The hygienist also provides
toothbrush instruction. Which ethical principal is the hygienist following? - Answer-
Tolerance
The pt is fearful and clearly states that they do not want to feel pain. The dentist is in a
bad mood and doesn't do anything verbally or physically to alleviate the pt's fears. The
pt yells out during the injection, jumps out of the chair and while running the parking lot
falls and breaks his leg. Which ethical principle did the dentist violate? - Answer-
Compassion
The pt has angina at the dental office, when asked if taking any ED meds like viagra. He
says no, the dentist gives pt nitroglycerin, the pts blood pressure drops and pt dies.
What ethical principle did the pt choose? - Answer- Autonomy
The dentist bends the needle to give an injection in the soft oral tissues to get the tooth
numb. The needle breaks and has to be left in the patient's cheek. The patients sues
the dents and the expert witness who write the most popular internationally and
nationally local anesthesia textbook states that the needles should not be bent for this
type of injection. The dentist has violated which ethical principal? - Answer- Standard of
care
The 24 year old patient comes into the office and reports a sexually transmitted disease
during the medical history review. The dental hygienist sees the patient's mother at a
wedding and tells the patient's mother about the STD. Which ethical principle has been
violated? - Answer- Confidentiality
The dentist is an expert witness during the courtroom trial and learns that a dental
company is going to release a new dental product that will save dentist lots of money.
The next day the dentist purchases stock for that dental company and after release of
the new dental product the dentist sells the stock a double for what it was originally
purchased. This is a violation of which ethical term? - Answer- Conflict of interest
, Explaining the benefits of proposed treatment is a part of which of the following ethical
terms? - Answer- Informed Consent
After explaining the best choice of treatment for a abscessed tooth would be endodontic
treatment, the patient decides to get the tooth extracted. The patient is exercising which
of the following ethical principles? - Answer- Autonomy
The dentist tells the patient that the best way to replace a missing tooth would be with a
partial denture because the dentist knows the patient will not be able to afford a implant
or fixed bridge. The dentist is violating which of the following ethical principles? -
Answer- Informed Consent
Failing to inform the patient about disease conditions like periodontal disease or dental
decay is a violation of which of the ethical principles? - Answer- Autonomy
The dental assistant who takes continuing education courses to keep up to date is
following which of the following ethical principles? - Answer- Nonmaleficence
The dentist arrives back after lunch and slurring his words and can't walk a straight line.
The dental staff report the dentist to the local authorities to prevent the dentist from
working on the patient who is waiting for treatment. Which ethical principle did the staff
abide by? - Answer- Nonmaleficence
An oral surgeon uses a forcep on Patient A who is a carrier for Hepatitis B. The
extraction forcep is used on Patient B later that day before anyone can realize that the
forcep was improperly sterilized. Which of the following best describe the ethical
obligation of the oral surgeon to inform Patient B of his/her exposure to Hepatitis B? -
Answer- Nonmaleficence
The patient asks the dental assistant to meet him after work. The dental assistant is
flattered and meets the patient after work at a local bar. Which ethical principle is being
violated? - Answer- Nonmaleficence
The general dentist attempts an extraction procedure on a multi-rooted tooth located in
a difficult position in the patient's mouth. Multiple problems ensue and the patient ends
up with permanent parasthesia of the lip and cheek. The dentist failed to follow which of
the following ethical principles? - Answer- Beneficence
A 34 year old female patient arrives for treatment with a swollen lip and fractured tooth.
The patient states that she fell down the stairs. This is the second time she has reported
falling and presenting with similar injuries. Which of the following would the dental office
staff be obligated to do? - Answer- Encourage patient to seek help
A 13 year old female patient arrives at the dental office with a torn labial frenum. At the
two previous appointments the patient had bruises on the cheek and facial area. Which
EXAM QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
ANSWERS
The patient insists on replacing all of her amalgam restorations with a non-mercury
alternative. The patient is exercising which of the following ethical principles? - Answer-
Autonomy
The receptionist brings in her 18 year old son to the oral surgeon's office to her his third
molars removed. The oral surgeon sends a request for payment from the receptionist's
dental insurance company but doesn't charge the receptionist the required co-pay.
Which of the following ethical principles has the oral surgeon violated? - Answer-
Veracity
The dentist does a 3 surface composite restoration on a patient who is a vice president
of a company in Silicon Valley that is doing very well. The dentist performs a similar
procedure on the next patient who is working for a start-up company out of a garage.
The dentist charges the vice president twice the amount that the second patient for the
same procedure. Which of the following ethical principles is the dentist violating? -
Answer- Veracity
The patient has used all of her dental insurance benefits for the year. Subsequently, the
patient comes into the office for an emergency root canal and the dentist tells the
financial coordinator to bill the root canal the following year since the patient has already
used up their dental insurance for that year. Which of the following is the dentist
violating? - Answer- Veracity
The dentist advertising the name if his company as "No Pain Dental Office". Which of
the following ethical principles is the dentist violating? - Answer- Veracity
The pre-doctoral dental student went to UC Davis for a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical
Engineering. Subsequently, attends and graduates from a dental school. The dental
student opens a dental implant office and advertises in a local newspaper the Electrical
Engineering degree along with the DDS degree. Which of the following ethical principles
is the dentist violating? - Answer- Veracity
The dentist has just explained to the patient that she needs a root canal then leaves to
take a phone call. When the dental assistant arrives to the treatment room to set up for
,the procedure and the patient starts crying. The dental assistants comforts the patient
and explains the procedure so the patient feels better and consents to the procedure.
Which of the following ethical principles did the dental assistant apply? - Answer-
Compassion
Dental staff join doctors without borders and go to a 3rd world country for a month.
Which ethical principle is being following? - Answer- professionalism
The dental staff told by the dentist to perform procedures which are documented in the
dental practice act that the duties are only duties that should be done by the dentist.
Which ethical principle is the dentist violating? - Answer- Justice
The pt is visiting the U.S for the first time from another country. The pt uses a twig from
a plant in their country to clean their teeth. The dental hygienist sees no harm done to
the pt's teeth or gums other than the need to floss. The hygienist also provides
toothbrush instruction. Which ethical principal is the hygienist following? - Answer-
Tolerance
The pt is fearful and clearly states that they do not want to feel pain. The dentist is in a
bad mood and doesn't do anything verbally or physically to alleviate the pt's fears. The
pt yells out during the injection, jumps out of the chair and while running the parking lot
falls and breaks his leg. Which ethical principle did the dentist violate? - Answer-
Compassion
The pt has angina at the dental office, when asked if taking any ED meds like viagra. He
says no, the dentist gives pt nitroglycerin, the pts blood pressure drops and pt dies.
What ethical principle did the pt choose? - Answer- Autonomy
The dentist bends the needle to give an injection in the soft oral tissues to get the tooth
numb. The needle breaks and has to be left in the patient's cheek. The patients sues
the dents and the expert witness who write the most popular internationally and
nationally local anesthesia textbook states that the needles should not be bent for this
type of injection. The dentist has violated which ethical principal? - Answer- Standard of
care
The 24 year old patient comes into the office and reports a sexually transmitted disease
during the medical history review. The dental hygienist sees the patient's mother at a
wedding and tells the patient's mother about the STD. Which ethical principle has been
violated? - Answer- Confidentiality
The dentist is an expert witness during the courtroom trial and learns that a dental
company is going to release a new dental product that will save dentist lots of money.
The next day the dentist purchases stock for that dental company and after release of
the new dental product the dentist sells the stock a double for what it was originally
purchased. This is a violation of which ethical term? - Answer- Conflict of interest
, Explaining the benefits of proposed treatment is a part of which of the following ethical
terms? - Answer- Informed Consent
After explaining the best choice of treatment for a abscessed tooth would be endodontic
treatment, the patient decides to get the tooth extracted. The patient is exercising which
of the following ethical principles? - Answer- Autonomy
The dentist tells the patient that the best way to replace a missing tooth would be with a
partial denture because the dentist knows the patient will not be able to afford a implant
or fixed bridge. The dentist is violating which of the following ethical principles? -
Answer- Informed Consent
Failing to inform the patient about disease conditions like periodontal disease or dental
decay is a violation of which of the ethical principles? - Answer- Autonomy
The dental assistant who takes continuing education courses to keep up to date is
following which of the following ethical principles? - Answer- Nonmaleficence
The dentist arrives back after lunch and slurring his words and can't walk a straight line.
The dental staff report the dentist to the local authorities to prevent the dentist from
working on the patient who is waiting for treatment. Which ethical principle did the staff
abide by? - Answer- Nonmaleficence
An oral surgeon uses a forcep on Patient A who is a carrier for Hepatitis B. The
extraction forcep is used on Patient B later that day before anyone can realize that the
forcep was improperly sterilized. Which of the following best describe the ethical
obligation of the oral surgeon to inform Patient B of his/her exposure to Hepatitis B? -
Answer- Nonmaleficence
The patient asks the dental assistant to meet him after work. The dental assistant is
flattered and meets the patient after work at a local bar. Which ethical principle is being
violated? - Answer- Nonmaleficence
The general dentist attempts an extraction procedure on a multi-rooted tooth located in
a difficult position in the patient's mouth. Multiple problems ensue and the patient ends
up with permanent parasthesia of the lip and cheek. The dentist failed to follow which of
the following ethical principles? - Answer- Beneficence
A 34 year old female patient arrives for treatment with a swollen lip and fractured tooth.
The patient states that she fell down the stairs. This is the second time she has reported
falling and presenting with similar injuries. Which of the following would the dental office
staff be obligated to do? - Answer- Encourage patient to seek help
A 13 year old female patient arrives at the dental office with a torn labial frenum. At the
two previous appointments the patient had bruises on the cheek and facial area. Which
