Hawaii Administrative Rules
Title 16 - DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Chapter 79 - DENTISTS AND DENTAL HYGIENISTS
Appendix A - Grading Criteria for The Practical Sections of the Hawaii Dental Licensure Examination

Universal Citation: HI Admin Rules A
Current through February, 2024

RATING SCORE EXTERNAL OUTLINE INTERNAL FORM/PULPAL PROTECTION CAVITY REFINEMENT
S A T I S F A C T O R Y IDEAL 5 Contiguous fissures and decalcification involving the DEJ appropriately treated. Complete caries removal. Angle of departure at 90° on proximal. Appropriate cavosurface angle on occlusal. Gingival and proximal contacts appropriately broken. Care of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Appropriate extension for convenience, resistance, and retention. Ideal pulpal wall depth 1.5 mm. Ideal axial wall depth 0.5 mm from DEJ with a minimal gingival wall width of 0.9 mm. Complete caries removal. Retention forms of appropriate depth and placement. Appropriate base placement (when indicated). Walls and margins smooth. Enamel walls parallel enamel rod direction. No unsupported enamel. Well defined cavity preparation. No debris present (toilet of the cavity).
SLIGHT ERRORS 4 Slightly over/underextended outline. Contiguous fissures and decalcification involving the DEJ adequately treated. Complete caries removal. Angle of departure slightly over/under 90°. Gingival and proximal contacts broken. Care of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Pulpal and/or axial walls slightly shallow/deep. Complete caries removal. Retention forms of appropriate depth and placement. Adequate base placement (when indicated). Walls and margins slightly rough. Enamel walls parallel enamel rod direction. No unsupported enamel. Defined cavity preparation. Slight debris present.
MODERATE ERRORS 3 Moderately over/underextended outline. Contiguous fissures and decalcification involving the DEJ minimally treated. Complete caries removal. Angle of departure moderately over/under 90°. Gingival and proximal contacts broken. Care of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Pulpal and/or axial walls moderately shallow/deep. Complete caries removal. Retention forms of appropriate depth and placement. Minimally adequate base placement (when indicated). Walls and margins moderately rough. Enamel walls parallel enamel rod direction. No unsupported enamel. Minimally defined cavity preparation. Moderate debris present.
N O T
S A T I S F A C T O R Y		 MARKED ERRORS 2 Markedly over/underextended outline. Marked failure to remove contiguous fissures and/or decalcification involving the DEJ. Angle of departure markedly over/under 90°. Failure to break gingival and/or proximal contacts. Marked mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Pulpal and/or axial walls markedly shallow/deep. Incomplete caries removal. Retention forms excessive and/or inappropriately placed. Inadequate base placement. Walls and margins markedly rough, irregular, and/or jagged. Enamel walls markedly unsupported and/or undermined. Marked debris and/or base present on walls and/or in line angles.
GROSS ERRORS 1 Grossly over/underextended outline form. Gross failure to remove contiguous fissures and/or decalcification involving the DEJ. Angle of departure grossly over/under 90°. Gross contact of adjacent tooth. Gross mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Pulpal and/or axial walls grossly shallow/deep. Gross caries remains. Retention forms excessive and/or inappropriately placed. Failure to place base (when indicated). Walls and margins grossly rough, irregular, and/or jagged. Enamel walls grossly unsupported and/or undermined. Gross debris and/or base present on walls and/or in line angles.
CRITICAL ERRORS 0 Critically over/underextended outline form. Critical mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Total lack of concept of operative dentistry. Mechanical pulpal exposure. Pulpal and/or axial wall critically shallow/deep. Critical caries remain. Total lack of concept of operative dentistry. Walls and margins critically rough, irregular, and/or jagged. Preparation undefined. Enamel walls critically unsupported and/or undermined.

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR AMALGAM RESTORATION HAWAII DENTAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION

RATING SCORE SURFACE QUALITY MARGIN INTEGRITY CONTOUR AND FUNCTION
S A T I S F A C T O R Y IDEAL 5 Uniform smoothness of entire surface of restoration. Devoid of pits or scratches. Dense condensation. Burnished. Junction of tooth/restoration undetectable. All contours and occlusal and proximal surfaces appropriately restored. Proximal embrasures and proximal and occlusal contacts appropriate. Care of hard/soft tissue.
SLIGHT ERRORS 4 Restoration exhibits slight roughness, pits, and scratches. Dense condensation. Slight detectable catches at tooth/restoration junction. Margins closed. Slight over/under contour of surfaces. Weak proximal contact. Appropriate occlusal contact. Lack of care of hard/soft tissue.
MODERATE ERRORS 3 Restoration exhibits moderate roughness, pits, and scratches. Dense condensation. Moderate detectable catches at tooth/restoration junction. Catches correctable at polishing. Moderate over/under contour of surfaces. Minimal proximal contact. Appropriate occlusal contact. Lack of care of hard/soft tissue.
N O T
S A T I S F A C T O R Y		 MARKED ERRORS 2 Restoration exhibits marked roughness, pitting and/or scratches. Soft condensation. Surface pieces flake off. Open margin. Marked tooth/restoration junction discrepancy. Marked interproximal overhang. Absence of appropriate contour and anatomical form. Excessive depth of carving in amalgam. Lack of proximal contact and/or embrasure form. High occlusion. Hard and/or soft tissue damage.
GROSS ERRORS 1 Restoration exhibits gross roughness, pitting and/or scratches. Soft condensation. Surface pieces flake off. Gross open margin. Gross tooth/restoration junction discrepancy. Gross interproximal overhang. Gross absence of appropriate contour and anatomical form. Grossly excessive depth of carving in amalgam. Gross lack of proximal contact and/or embrasure form. Grossly high occlusion. Gross hard and/or soft tissue damage.
CRITICAL ERRORS 0 Critically over/underfilled. Surface totally defective or missing. Open margin to DEJ. Critical interproximal overhang. Fractured or displaced restoration. No concept of form and function. Complete lack of proximal contact and/or embrasure form. Excessive mutilation of hard and/or soft tissue. Complete or partial loss or fracture of restoration.

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR CAVITY PREPARATION FOR COMPOSITE HAWAII DENTAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION

RATING SCORE EXTERNAL OUTLINE/OPERATIVE ENVIRONMENT INTERNAL FORM/PULPAL PROTECTION/TOILET OF CAVITY
S A T I S F A C T O R Y IDEAL 5 Ideally extended for convenience of preparation, removal of contiguous decalcification, and finish of enamel margins. Care of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Ideal extension of axial wall for complete caries removal. Walls and margins ideally defined. Complete caries removal. Ideal base placement (when indicated). No debris present.
SLIGHT ERRORS 4 Slightly over/underextended outline form. Contiguous decalcification adequately treated. Care of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Slightly over/underextended axial wall. Walls and margins adequately defined. Complete caries removal. Adequate base placement (when indicated). No debris present.
MODERATE ERRORS 3 Moderately over/underextended outline form. Contiguous decalcification minimally adequately treated. Care of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Moderately over/underextended axial wall. Walls and margins minimally adequately defined. Complete caries removal. Minimally adequate base placement (when indicated). No debris present.
N O T
S A T I S F A C T O R Y		 MARKED ERRORS 2 Markedly over/underextended outline form. Marked failure to remove contiguous decalcified areas. Failure to conserve tooth structure. Marked mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Markedly over/underextended axial wall. Failure to conserve tooth structure. Walls and margins markedly undefined. Incomplete caries removal. Markedly inadequate base (when indicated). Debris present on walls.
GROSS ERRORS 1 Grossly over/underextended outline form. Gross failure to remove contiguous decalcified areas. Failure to conserve tooth structure. Gross mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Grossly over/underextended axial wall. Failure to conserve tooth structure. Walls and margins grossly undefined. Gross caries remain. Grossly inadequate base placement (when indicated). Gross debris present on walls.
CRITICAL ERRORS 0 Critically over/underextended outline form. Total lack of concept of operative dentistry. Critical mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Mechanical pulp exposure. Walls and margins grossly undefined. Critical caries remain. Critical debris present on external walls.

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR COMPOSITE RESTORATION HAWAII DENTAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION

RATING SCORE SURFACE QUALITY MARGIN INTEGRITY CONTOURS/FUNCTION/SHADE
S A T I S F A C T O R Y IDEAL 5 Uniform smoothness of entire surface of restoration, devoid of voids, pits and scratches. Polished. Junction of tooth/restoration undetectable. All contours, occlusal and proximal surfaces ideally restored. Proximal embrasures, contacts ideal. Care of hard/soft tissue. Shade matches natural tooth.
SLIGHT ERRORS 4 Restoration exhibits slight roughness, pits and/or scratches. Polished. Slight detectable catches at tooth/restoration function but margin closed. Slight under/over contour. Proximal embrasures, contacts adequate. Shade varies slightly from natural tooth. Slight lack of care of hard and/or soft tissues.
MODERATE ERRORS 3 Restoration exhibits moderate roughness, pits and/or scratches. Polished. Moderate detectable catches at margin that are correctable in polishing. Moderate under/over contour. Proximal embrasures, contacts minimally adequate. Shade varies moderately from natural tooth. Moderate lack of care of hard and/or soft tissue.
N O T
S A T I S F A C T O R Y		 MARKED ERRORS 2 Restoration exhibits marked roughness, pits and/or scratches. Contaminated surface. Open margin. Marked tooth/restoration junction discrepancy. Marked overhang/catches. Marked under/over contour. Proximal embrasures markedly inadequate, proximal contacts open. High occlusion. Shade varies markedly from natural tooth. Marked lack of care of hard and/or soft tissue.
GROSS ERRORS 1 Restoration exhibits gross roughness, pitting and/or scratches. Gross open margin. Gross tooth/restoration junction discrepancy. Gross overhang/catches. Gross under/over contour. Gross lack of contact and embrasure form; high occlusion. Gross hard/soft tissue damage.
CRITICAL ERRORS 0 Entire surface missing. Surface totally defective. Loss or substantial chip/fracture of restoration. Critically open margin. Critical overhangs. Restoration fractured or displaced. Complete lack of proximal contact and/or embrasure form. Critical mutilation of hard/soft tissue. No concept of form and function.

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR ENDODONTIC ACCESS PREPARATION HAWAII DENTAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION

RATING SCORE ACCESS OR OPENING DIRECT ACCESS INTERNAL WALLS AND FLOOR
S A T I S F A C T O R Y IDEAL 5 Ideally extended, ideal cavosurface angle. Ideal direct access to canal(s). Walls and floor clean, without pits and gouges. No debris present.
SLIGHT ERRORS 4 Slightly over/underextended. Direct access to canal(s) compromised. Walls and/or floor slightly pitted or rough.
MODERATE ERRORS 3 Moderately over/underextended. Error(s) present but does not preclude a satisfactory result. Access to canal(s) can be attained with difficulty. Walls and/or floor moderately pitted and/or gouged.
N O T
S A T I S F A C T O R Y		 MARKED ERRORS 2 Markedly over/underextended. No direct access to canal(s) leading to possible lodging or perforation of canal(s). Walls and/or floor markedly pitted or gouged.
GROSS ERRORS 1 Grossly over/underextended. No direct access to canal(s). File cannot enter canal(s). Walls and/or floor grossly pitted or gouged.
CRITICAL ERRORS 0 Failure to unroof chamber. Tooth damaged, unrestorable. Canal(s) not located or identified. Perforation of chamber floor, walls or canal(s).

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR CAST RESTORATION PREPARATION HAWAII DENTAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION

RATING SCORE FORM OF PREPARATION/REDUCTION RETENTION FINISH, MARGINS AND BEVELS
S A T I S F A C T O R Y IDEAL 5 Ideally extended for convenience and prevention. Ideal occlusal reduction. Ideal coronal/pulpal/axial reduction. Parallelism is ideal, no undercuts internally or externally. Ideal taper for retention and withdrawal. Boxes/walls are parallel, ideally defined, and ideal length and location. Ideal finish and smooth walls and well defined angles. Margins and bevels ideally placed, smooth and well defined.
SLIGHT ERRORS 4 Slightly over/underextended for convenience. Slight over/under occlusal reduction. Slight over/under coronal/pulpal/axial reduction. Parallelism compromised and slight internal undercut. Slight imperfections in boxes. Slightly inadequate length of wall. Walls, line angles, and margins slightly rough. Margins slightly under/overextended. Margins, bevels deep, shallow or irregular.
MODERATE ERRORS 3 Moderately over/underextended for convenience and protection. Moderate over/under occlusal reduction. Moderate coronal/pulpal/axial reduction. Parallelism compromised and moderate internal undercut. Moderate imperfections in boxes. Moderately inadequate length of wall. Walls, line angles, and margins rough and moderately irregular. Margins and bevels moderately deep, shallow or irregular.
N O T
S A T I S F A C T O R Y		 MARKED ERRORS 2 Markedly over/underextended for convenience and protection. Marked over/under occlusal reduction. Marked over/under coronal/pulpal/axial reduction. Marked mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Parallelism inadequate. Marked internal or external undercut. Markedly excessive taper. Boxes markedly ill defined and/or improperly placed. Markedly inadequate length of the wall. Walls, line angles, and margins rough and markedly irregular with poor finish. Margins and bevels markedly deep, shallow or irregular.
GROSS ERRORS 1 Grossly over/underextended for convenience and protection. Gross over/under occlusal reduction. Gross over/under coronal/pulpal/axial reduction. Gross mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Parallelism inadequate. Gross external or internal undercut. Grossly excessive taper. Boxes lack definition and/or are improperly placed. Gross lack of retention. Walls, line angles, and margins grossly deep, or shallow with irregularities. Margins and bevels rough with poor finish.
CRITICAL ERRORS 0 Critically over/underextended for convenience and protection. Reductions exhibit a critical lack of concept. Critical mutilation of adjacent hard/soft tissue. Tapered or critical undercut. Critical lack of retention. Critical lack of concept. Margins and/or bevels lack definition.

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR WAX PATTERN HAWAII DENTAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION

RATING SCORE CONTACT MARGINS
S A T I S F A C T O R Y IDEAL 5 The interproximal contacts are visually closed with ideal placement and coronal contours. Ideal gingival embrasure. The margin of patterns are flawless in adaptation, placement and contour on both the tooth preparation and die, with good resistance and retention.
SLIGHT ERRORS 4 The interproximal contacts are visually closed with slight deviation of ideal placement, coronal contours or gingival embrasure. Slight discrepancy in margin detail, placement and contour on both the tooth preparation and die.
MODERATE ERRORS 3 The interproximal contacts are minimally re-established, and have moderate discrepancy in placement, coronal contour or gingival embrasure. Moderate discrepancy in margin detail, thick or thin, but sealed.
N O T
S A T I S F A C T O R Y		 MARKED ERRORS 2 Interproximal contacts visually open. Marked discrepancies in shape, anatomical position, or gingival embrasure. Margin detail markedly lacking. Excesses, deficiencies detected visually on both the tooth preparation and die. Open margin with inadequate resistance and retention.
GROSS ERRORS 1 Interproximal contacts grossly open. Gross discrepancies in shape, anatomical position or gingival embrasure. Gross margin excesses, deficiencies detected visually on both the tooth preparation and die.
CRITICAL ERRORS 0 No concept of contact form. Critically lacking or missing margin detail.

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR WAX PATTERN HAWAII DENTAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION

RATING SCORE WAX CONDITION OVERALL FORM, CONTOURS AND OCCLUSION
S A T I S F A C T O R Y IDEAL 5 Wax is uniformly smooth and polished, free of pits and voids with appropriate thickness. Internal wax provides ideal resistance and retention. The pattern ideally resembles the morphology of the tooth being restored with centric contacts consistent in shape, size and intensity with such contacts on other teeth; facial and lingual contours in harmony with adjacent teeth.
SLIGHT ERRORS 4 Slight imperfection in wax smoothness and polish. Internal wax provides slight lack of resistance and retention. Slight deviation in morphology, centric occlusion and facial and lingual contours.
MODERATE ERRORS 3 Wax exhibits irregularities in smoothness, polish and thinness of wax but wax pattern is castable. Internal wax provides moderate lack of resistance and retention. Moderate imperfections in morphology, facial and lingual contours and occlusion is light.
N O T
S A T I S F A C T O R Y		 MARKED ERRORS 2 Marked imperfections of smoothness, polish and thinness of wax. Wax pattern is not castable. Internal wax provides marked lack of resistance and retention. Marked discrepancy in morphology, facial and lingual contours too bulky, and occlusion is heavy, causing open bite.
GROSS ERRORS 1 Gross, significant irregularities including pits and voids. Wax pattern is not castable. Internal wax provides gross lack of resistance and retention. Gross discrepancy in morphology, obvious excessive facial and lingual contours, bulkiness causing open bite.
CRITICAL ERRORS 0 Critical imperfection in wax. Perforations and/or fractures. Wax pattern is not castable. No concept - no resemblance to the morphology, space relationship to adjacent tooth or occlusion.

The amended version of this appendix by Hawaii Administrative Rules Listing of Filings, 2016-01, August, eff.8/22/2016 is not yet available.

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