California Registered Dental Assistant (RDA) Written Practice Exam

Where would you commonly find the dental laboratory in a dental office?

1. In the reception area

2. Adjacent to the treatment rooms

3. In a separate space away from patient care

4. Within the sterilization area

The correct answer is: In a separate space away from patient care

A dental laboratory is a designated workspace where dental prosthetics are made. As such, it requires a separate space away from patient care to ensure proper sterilization and to prevent cross-contamination. While it may seem intuitive to have the laboratory adjacent to the treatment rooms for convenience, this would compromise the sterility of the prosthetics being produced. The reception area is designated for administrative tasks and does not provide the necessary facilities and equipment for laboratory work. Additionally, having the laboratory within the sterilization area would not provide enough space and could lead to clutter and potential safety hazards. Therefore, the most appropriate and common location for a dental laboratory in a dental office is in a separate space away from patient care.