Florida Dental Laws Exam Questions Explained

The Florida Dental Laws Exam

In the state of Florida, the journey to becoming a licensed dental professional culminates in passing the Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam. This crucial test is designed to ensure that every dentist and dental hygienist fully understands the legislative requirements that govern their profession. According to Florida Statute 466.007, a candidate who has completed the requisite training and education requirements, or who is a faculty member, is eligible to take the exam. The purpose of the examination is to determine if an individual possesses sufficient knowledge of the laws and rules in order to practice dentistry in Florida in accordance with Chapter 466 of the Florida Statutes, the Rules of the Board of Dentistry, and the Rules of the Department of Health as they pertain to dentistry . The Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam is a multiple-choice test administered on the computer. The Board of Dentistry uses it as a means of evaluating, by means of questions, applicants’ knowledge and understanding of Florida Dental Laws and Rules. In short, the exam is intended to guarantee that everyone in the field is competent in Florida’s dental regulations. While not a grueling research paper, thesis, or scientific study, these questions require a significant degree of study in order to pass. With the right preparation, however, most candidates should be able to obtain a passing score of seventy-five percent or above.

Topics Covered on the Florida Dental Laws Exam

The Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam is designed to assess the knowledge and understanding of dental professionals about the standards, laws, and regulations that govern their practice within the state. By covering a wide range of essential topics, the exam helps ensure that all dental professionals are on the same page when it comes to understanding and implementing the laws and regulations that affect their profession.
Licensing Requirements: It is vital for dental professionals to be aware of the specific licensing requirements that must be met in order to practice legally in the state of Florida. This includes completing the necessary coursework, passing the NBDE and/or ADEX (formerly WREB) exams, and successfully completing a background check.
Scope of Practice: The exam tests knowledge of the scope of practice for various dental professional designations, including dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. This includes understanding the limits and boundaries of their respective roles in delivering dental care and performing dental procedures.
Patient Rights: Patient rights play a central role in the practice of dentistry, and dental professionals need to be familiar with the range of patient rights that must be respected at all times. This includes obtaining informed consent before performing dental procedures, maintaining patient confidentiality, and keeping accurate and thorough patient records.
Professional Responsibilities: All dental professionals have a set of professional responsibilities that they must fulfill as part of their duties. This includes the ethical obligation to practice honesty and integrity in all interactions with patients and clients, as well as the legal responsibility to comply with all licensing requirements and regulations.
Infection Control: Infection control is a critical part of modern dentistry, and dental professionals must be familiar with the procedures and protocols that are used to minimize the risk of infection to both patients and practitioners. This includes understanding the proper methods for sterilizing instruments, disposing of waste material, and managing the use of protective equipment such as gloves, masks, and eyewear.
Emergencies and Record Keeping: The ability to respond effectively to emergencies that may occur in the dental office setting is essential for all dental professionals. This includes the ability to perform appropriate first aid and basic life support measures, while also keeping a clear and consistent record of events that occur in the office.
By covering these and other key topics, the Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam ensures that all dental professionals have the knowledge and understanding they need to operate legally and effectively within the state.

Question Formats on the Florida Dental Law Exam

The multi-scenario questions have a format similar to the question found below:
Mr. Swan is a 62-year-old retired engineer whose wife recently died. Mr. Swan presents to your office with a lower partial denture that he wears occasionally as an esthetic device. The denture was made 20 years ago in Michigan, where he used to live. He now wishes to get a routine cleaning and exam, but you note calculus on his one remaining tooth. As Mr. Swan has a penchant for asking questions, he interrupts your efforts to clean and polish his remaining tooth and asks you about fluoride and interdental cleaning devices. Mr. Swan also expresses concern about his need for full dentures and reconstructive surgery.
The correct answer to the above question is "B". This is because questions like this one do not really test anything other than your reading comprehension and ability to pick out the pertinent fact in a long, drawn out scenario.
The Board of Dentistry has not changed the format of its exam in the last 25 years, and will likely never do so. Because we know this, we can predict some of the types of questions that the exam is going to feature.
Scenario based questions will usually test the following concepts: informed consent, scope of practice, board appointment hearing procedures, dentist/general dentist/ dental hygienist duties.
There are also a few straight multiple choice questions about specific questions pertaining to scope of practice, such as "a dentist may not re-cement a crown once he has removed it except under." A question similar this type will appear once on the exam.
Expect mostly cross functional questions. Each chapter will most likely have a few definitions and be comprised of scenario based questions only.

Prepping for the Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam

Setting your study schedule
For those of you who are in school full time, or those who are working non-traditional schedules, pick a 4-6 week period to study.
If you are in a "crunch" or have other commitments that require your attention, you might want to set a period of time to study at the beginning and end of your workday. For example, from 6am to 8am and from 6pm to 10pm for 10 days or longer.
For the record, it can be helpful to schedule an hour or so of per day of review on weekends as well. Ideally, your study period is as long as necessary for you to read this material carefully and thoughtfully, see how it applies to answering law questions, analyze how questions are answered on the exam, and how test-taking strategies and techniques can help you perform at your highest level under exam conditions.
Helpful Study Materials
The best source materials for the Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam are the laws and rules themselves. The major focus should be on the Uniform Controlled Substance Act (UCSA) and the Florida Dental Practice Act (FDPA).
The UCSA may be located at the following web address: http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/893
The Florida Dental Practice Act is located under Title XXXIII at the following web address: https://www . flsenate.gov/laws/Statutes/2010/466
There is also much academic information to be gained from studying C.R.Florida on the topic of dental laws and rules: http://www.law.fsu.edu/library/codesearch.aspx
The State Department of Health also publishes a helpful pamphlet on important sections of the laws and rules: www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/dentistry/pdfs/Dentistry/applicantsmanual.pdf
Nolo also has some helpful information on licensing and examination issues for Florida dental professionals: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/universal-law-wholicense-requirements-florida-inedentists-31057.html
Helpful Practice Questions
Practice tests are a great way to enhance your ability to take an early examination and successfully pass.
According to lawtestsoft.com, the most difficult part of any multiple choice test is that they are tricky.
Practice questions allow you to anticipate what those tricks will be and how to avoid falling into those traps.
In addition, practice exams may reveal gaps in your knowledge that will help you know what areas you need extra work at prior to re-testing.
LawTestSoft.com has a practice exam that provides 100 questions for you to answer. And you get your score immediately.

Common Mistakes on the Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam

Nearly every day, I’m in my South Florida office and meet a candidate who needs help with the Mastering Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam. Some candidates make routine mistakes while trying to pass the exam. Let’s look at some examples of common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Mistake: Selecting the answer that sounds like it could be the "correct" answer. This is known as an "attractive distraction." All choices have the "correct" answer in them. Choosing an answer just because it "sounds like it could not be wrong" or "I remember this happening before" is not how you will pass this test. It will be your downfall every time. Assume that the answer choices will all be the "perfect" answer.
Assume that the exam is designed to confuse you. Read all four choices. Each is close to the correct answer. Then mark the two answers that are incorrect. Don’t choose an answer because it is similar. The answer choice has to be correct for the state of Florida.
Mistake: You have only studied the practice test questions. The practice test questions are just that queries that demonstrate information in the book (exam). They let you know you understood the material and can use it during your clinical practice in the office. They are not questions for the actual test and do not prepare you for the questions you will find on the Mastering Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam. You must study all of the chapters in the book. You must learn the information. Once you have learned all of the information, you can use your critical thinking skills to answer the questions. This is how you pass the test. For example, the correct answer on a test question may be found in two different parts of the book.
Mistake: You studied for the test by focusing on what would not be on the test. Most people pick up information they believe is important to pass the test and ignore any information they believe is not necessary. You may feel that you failed the exam because your strategy backfired. You have to read the chapters in the book, cover to cover, word for word. This means looking for clues to fill in the blanks. For example, if you have an office based practice and use nitrous oxide you will find that the use of nitrous oxide is in two places in the book.
Mistake: Referring only to the table of contents of the book to find the correct answer to the question on the test. You have no idea where the information is in the chapter. You do not know for sure that the information is in that chapter. Practice the concept of helping yourself develop hunting ability. You want to be able to find the material in the chapter location your findings suggest consistently, every time. This is important for your passage success rate on the Mastering Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam.

Florida Dental Laws and Rules Exam Checklist

In addition to the workshops and textbooks we sell through our website, there are many other resources candidates can draw on to prepare for the laws and rules exam. In this section, we will discuss details of some of these additional resources, including:
Online Courses: The Florida Board of Dentistry offers a short online course on understanding and using the Florida Dental Practice Act. Candidates can use this online module to prepare themselves for the laws and rules exam as well as their first job in Florida. It takes a little over an hour to complete and features a short quiz section and a glossary of useful terms.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry also offers a free online course on the Florida Dental Practice Act that covers all the rules regarding advertising for dentists in Florida. Whether you are interested in presenting a seminar on or advertising for these services, this free resource is a great place to start!
Seminars: For new dentists , the Florida Board of Dentistry often sponsors day-long seminars on different relevant topics, such as "Clinical Practices" and "Ethics and Professionalism" among others. These seminars provide an opportunity to mingle with other new dentists and learn from industry leaders as well as state executives.
Official Guides: The Florida Board of Dentistry publishes a packet of study materials along with links to other useful sources of information about this testing process. You should also check your own dental school’s website to see if faculty members have developed any additional study materials or strategies for this test.
While passing the Florida exam on laws and rules before receiving your license is a requirement, it is possible to take it earlier than necessary. For example, if you already have a dental degree from overseas and want a job in Florida and the laws and rules exam is a requirement for licensure, you can still take it early and navigate the long application process if necessary.