California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

When mixing increments of dental material powder, which size is introduced into the liquid first?

1. All of the material at once

2. Three quarters of the material

3. Half of the material

4. One quarter of the material

The correct answer is: Half of the material

When mixing dental material powder, the recommended practice is to introduce half of the material into the liquid first. This allows for more controlled and precise mixing, ensuring that the powder is evenly distributed and reducing the risk of air bubbles forming. If all of the material is added at once, it may be difficult to properly mix and could result in an inconsistent mixture. Similarly, introducing three quarters or one quarter of the material may also result in an imbalanced mixture. Therefore, the best option is to start with half of the material and gradually add more as needed.