Dental Assistant Practice Exam

In the Current Status Form, which option is filled in pencil only?

1. Patient history

2. Medical emergency contacts

3. Temporary conditions

4. Future appointments

The correct answer is: Temporary conditions

The option that is filled in pencil only on the Current Status Form is temporary conditions. This is because temporary conditions can change frequently, and using a pencil allows for easy updates and modifications as the patient's condition evolves. By recording these conditions in pencil, dental assistants ensure that the form remains accurate and reflects the most current information without the need for erasing or creating a cluttered document. Other options, such as patient history, medical emergency contacts, and future appointments, are typically considered more stable and less likely to change drastically over short periods. These are recorded in ink to maintain a permanent and unambiguous record. In contrast, the flexible nature of temporary conditions warrants the use of pencil, making it easier to keep the form up to date with minimal disruption.