California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

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What may happen if a patient closes their lip and spits into the saliva ejector?

Blocked ejector
Retraction towards the patient's mouth
Increased suction efficiency
No significant effect

The correct answer is: Retraction towards the patient's mouth

If the patient closes their lips and spits into the saliva ejector, it may cause retraction towards the patient's mouth. This can occur because the saliva ejector is designed to remove fluids from the mouth rather than push them in. Therefore, any force pushing from the patient's mouth, such as the act of spitting, may cause the saliva ejector to retract back into their mouth. Additionally, the suction efficiency may decrease, resulting in a build-up of fluids in the patient's mouth and a possible blockage of the ejector. This can potentially lead to discomfort for the patient and interruptions in the dental procedure. On the other hand, there would be no significant effect if the patient does not close their lips and spits into the saliva ejector, as it allows for proper suction and removal of fluids from the mouth.