Section 7: Dentistry Review Questions

Using the Triadan system, the proper way to describe a dog's first maxillary left permanent premolar is: A. 205 B. 105 C. 306 D. 502

A. 205

Prognathism is a normal condition in brachycephalic breeds but it is considered a genetic defect in other breeds. It is best characterized as: A. A mandible that is longer than the maxilla B. A maxilla that is longer than the mandible C. One side of the head being longer than the other D. An overly long soft palate

A. A mandible that is longer than the maxilla

Brachygnathism is a genetic defect best characterized as: A. A maxilla that is longer than the mandible B. A mandible that is longer than the maxilla C. A lack of incisors D. Polydontia

A. A maxilla that is longer than the mandible

A bulldog would be described as having what type of head shape? A. Brachycephalic B. Dolichocephalic C. Mesaticephalic/mesocephalic D. Prognacephalic

A. Brachycephalic

Abbreviations are commonly used in veterinary practice, and some abbreviations are exclusive to dental terminology. Which abbreviation best aligns with the complicated crown fracture? A. CCF B. UCF C. UCRF D. CCRF

A. CCF (Complicated Crown Fracture)

When scaling gross calculus from the teeth: A. Hold the scaler using a modified pen grasp B. Hold the scaler using a modified screwdriver grasp C. Use long controlled strokes toward the gums D. Hold the curette using a modified pen grasp

A. Hold the scaler using a modified pen grasp

A malocclusion in which the upper 4th premolar lies palatal to the 1st molars is known as: A. Posterior crossbite B. Base-narrow mandibular canines C. Wry mouth D. Rostral crossbite

A. Posterior crossbite

An older dog with dental disease is presented to the clinic with a draining tract below his right eye. What is the most likely cause? A. Right-sided maxillary carnassial tooth root abscess B. Left-sided maxillary carnassial tooth root abscess C. Right-sided maxillary mandibular carnassial tooth root abscess D. Maxillary incisor tooth root abscess

A. Right-sided maxillary carnassial tooth root abscess

Why would thermal bone injury be a complication of tooth extraction? A. The bur will overhead and damage the soft tissue and bone B. Thermal injury is not a concern, as you are removing the tooth anyway C. Tooth elevators cause excessive heat, which could injure the soft tissue around the tooth that is being extracted D. Tooth extractors cause excessive heat, which could injure the remaining teeth

A. The bur will overhead and damage the soft tissue and bone

Dental film should be placed in the mouth with the dimple facing: A. Up and pointing rostrally B. Up and pointing caudally C. Down and pointing rostrally D. Down and pointing caudally

A. Up and pointing rostrally

To protect the pulp tissue of teeth from thermal damage during ultrasonic scaling, one should: A. Use constant irrigation B. Change tips frequently C. Use slow rotational speed D. Use appropriate amounts of paste

A. Use constant irrigation

Apical means "toward the ___." A. Root tip B. Crown C. Cheeks D. Tongue

A. root tip

At what age do the permanent canine and premolar teeth in dogs generally erupt? A. 3-5 months B. 4-6 months C. 5-7 months D. 6-8 months

B. 4-6 months

Using the Triadan system, the proper way to describe a cat's first mandibular right molar is: A. 407 B. 409 C. 109 D. 909

B. 409

The following statements are all true except: A. Sulcus depth is measured using a probe B. A sulcus depth <3 mm is normal in a cat C. A sulcus depth >3 mm indicated periodontal disease D. The probe is inserted gently into the gingival sulcus parallel to the root of the tooth

B. A sulcus depth <3 mm is normal in a cat

A malocclusion in which the canines erupt in an overly upright position, or the mandible is narrowed, is known as: A. Posterior crossbite B. Base-narrow mandibular canines C. Wry mouth D. Rostral crossbite

B. Base-narrow mandibular canines

The term that best describes a dog with an abnormally short mandible is: A. Prognathism B. Brachygnathism C. Mesaticephalic D. Dolichocephalic

B. Brachygnathism

Normal scissor ovvlusion occurs when the maxillary 4th premolars occlude: A. Level with the mandibular 4th premolar B. Buccally to the mandibular 1st molar C. Buccally to the mandibular 4th premolar D. Lingually to the mandibular 1st molar

B. Buccally to the mandibular 1st molar

Pocket depth is measured from the: A. Cementoenamel junction to the bottom of the pocket B. Current free gingival margin to the bottom of the gingival sulcus C. Cementoenamel junction to the current free gingival margin and then adding 1-2 mm D. Cementoenamel junction to the apical extent of the defect

B. Current free gingival margin to the bottom of the gingival sulcus

In veterinary dentistry, chlorhexidine solutions are used because they: A. Prevent cementoenamel erosion B. Have antibacterial properties C. Remove enamel stains and whiten teeth D. Are used to treat gingival hyperplasia in brachycephalic breeds

B. Have antibacterial properties

Stomatitis is defined as: A. Bad breath that is evident when dental work must be completed B. Inflammation of the mouth's soft tissue C. Resorption of hard dental tissues by odontoclasts D. Inflammation and infection of some or all of the tooth's supportive tissues

B. Inflammation of the mouth's soft tissue

When polishing teeth using an air-driven unit, at what speed should the hand piece be set? A. High speed B. Low speed C. Either high or low is acceptable D. Finishing speed

B. Low speed

Which teeth on each side of the dog's mouth have three roots? A. Maxillary: 3rd and 4th premolars and 1st molar B. Maxillary: 4th premolars and 1st and 2nd molars C. Mandibular: 4th premolars and 1st and 2nd molars D. Mandibular and Maxillary: 4th premolars and 1st and 2nd molars

B. Maxillary: 4th premolars and 1st and 2nd molars

The nerves and blood vessels of a tooth are located in the: A. Sulcus B. Pulp cavity C. Marrow cavity D. Calculus

B. Pulp cavity

You are looking at your dental radiograph and notice that the tooth is elongated. This happened because the beam was perpendicular to the: A. Film B. Tooth C. Bisecting angle D. Wrong tooth

B. Tooth

When using hand instruments to clean teeth: A. Use a modified pen grasp with a back-and-forth scraping method B. Use a modified pen grasp with overlapping pull strokes that are directed away from the gingival margin C. Use the sickle scaler for subgingival curettage D. The curette is best used supragingivally

B. Use a modified pen grasp with overlapping pull strokes that are directed away from the gingival margin

Which of the following correctly describes the adult feline dental formula? A. 2 x {I 2/1:C 0/0:P 3/2:M 3/3} B. 2 x {I 3/3:C 1/1:P 4/4:M 2/3} C. 2 x {I 3/3:C 1/1:P 3/2:M 1/1} D. 2 x {I 3/3:C 1/1:P 3/3}

C. 2 x {I 3/3:C 1/1:P 3/2:M 1/1}

When taking radiographs of the canine tooth in a large breed dog, what size of dental film should be used to ensure that the whole tooth is included? A. 0 B. 2 C. 4 D. 8" x 10" screen film

C. 4

Hypodontia is defined as: A. Congenital absence of teeth B. Total absence of teeth C. Absence of only a few teeth D. Inflammation of the mouth

C. Absence of only a few teeth

The flap side of the dental film should face: A. Any direction, because it does not matter B. Toward the tube head C. Away from the tube head D. The caudal side of the animal

C. Away from the tube head

What mineralized tissue covers the root of the tooth? A. Calculus B. Enamel C. Cementum D. Dentin

C. Cementum

Dentin is covered by: A. Enamel and bone B. Bone and pulp C. Cementum and enamel D. Pulp and cementum

C. Cementum and enamel

A client would like to know what chew toy would be safest for her dog's teeth. You suggest that she is best to give "Fido" a: A. Dried cow hoof B. Nylon rope toy C. Dense rubber exerciser D. Large knucklebone

C. Dense rubber exerciser

As part of normal tooth development, what part of the tooth widens? A. Enamel B. Pulp C. Dentin D. Gingiva

C. Dentin

Another term for neck lesions often seen on feline teeth is: A. Peripheral odontogenic fibroma B. Stomatitis C. Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions D. Enamel fracture

C. Feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions

The free or marginal gingiva: A. Occupies the space between the teeth B. Is the most apical portion of the gingiva C. Forms the gingival sulcus around the tooth D. Is tightly bound to the cementum

C. Forms the gingival sulcus around the tooth

The bisecting angle principle states that the plane of an x-ray beam should be 90 degrees to the: A. Long axis of the tooth B. Plane of the film C. Imaginary line that bisects the angle formed by the tooth's long axis and the film plane D. Imaginary line that bisects the angle formed by the animal's head and the film plane

C. Imaginary line that bisects the angle formed by the tooth's long axis and the film plane

Gingivoplasty is the: A. Addition of more gingiva to the site B. Binding of the loose teeth together to stabilize them during a healing process C. Removal of hyperplastic gingival tissue D. Removal of a portion of the tooth structure

C. Removal of hyperplastic gingival tissue

A scaler is used to: A. Check the tooth's root surface for any irregularities B. Measure the depth of gingival recession C. Scale large amounts of calculus from the tooth surface D. Scale calculus from the tooth surface located in the gingival sulcus

C. Scale large amounts of calculus from the tooth surface

All of the following are complications that may result from extraction, except: A. Hemorrhage B. Jaw fracture C. Stomatitis D. Oronasal fistula

C. Stomatitis

You have an instrument in your hand that has two sharp sides, a rounded back, and a rounded point. Which instrument are you holding? A. Sickle scaler B. Morse scaler C. Universal curette D. Sickle curette

C. Universal curette

Between patients, it is best to maintain instruments in which following order: A. Use, sharpen, wash and sterilize B. Use, wash, sterilize and sharpen C. Use, wash, sharpen and sterilize D. Wash, sterilize, use and sharpen

C. Use, wash, sharpen and sterilize

A malocclusion where one side of the mandible or maxilla is disproportionate to its other side is known as: A. Posterior crossbite B. Base-narrow mandibular canines C. Wry mouth D. Rostral crossbite

C. Wry mouth

What members of the veterinary staff make up the oral health care team? A. The veterinarian B. The veterinary technician C. The receptionists D. All of the above

D. All of the above

The pulp canal of a tooth contains: A. Nerves B. Blood vessels C. Connective tissue and blood vessels D. Blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues

D. Blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissues

Abbreviations are commonly used in veterinary practice, and some abbreviations are exclusive to dental terminology. Which abbreviation best aligns with a complicated crown and root fracture? A. CCF B. UCF C. UCRF D. CCRF

D. CCRF

The periodontium includes the periodontal ligament and all of the following except: A. Gingiva B. Cementum C. Alveolar bone D. Enamel

D. Enamel

The most common dental procedure performed on a horse is: A. Quidding B. Curettage C. Scaling D. Floating

D. Floating

Which of the following statements regarding enamel is true? A. Contains living tissue B. Covers the tooth crown and root C. Continues production by the ameloblasts after eruption D. Is relatively nonporous and impervious

D. Is relatively nonporous and impervious

Dry socket is more likely to occur when one: A. Ensures there is an increased blood supply to the area B. Practices good surgical technique C. Allows a blood clot to form so that fibroblasts are formed D. Overirrigates the tooth socket so that no clot can form

D. Overirrigates the tooth socket so that no clot can form

Malocclusions can lead to dental disease for all of the following reasons except: A. Soft-tissue trauma from teeth that are abnormally positioned B. Accelerated development of periodontal disease resulting from the lack of normal wear and the normal flushing of teeth with saliva C. Abnormal wear of teeth resulting from malposition leading to fracture and pulp exposure D. Presence of resorptive lesions leading to the destruction of teeth

D. Presence of resorptive lesions leading to the destruction of teeth

A malocclusion in which one or more of the upper incisor teeth are caudal to the lower incisors is known as: A. Posterior crossbite B. Base-narrow mandibular canines C. Wry mouth D. Rostral crossbite

D. Rostral crossbite

When performing a dental prophylaxis, minimal safety equipment includes: A. Gloves only B. Gloves and mask only C. Safety glasses only D. Safety glasses, mask and gloves

D. Safety glasses, mask and gloves

To prep a patient for surgical tooth extraction, which of the following should occur? A. No prep is needed. It is best to extract, and then to clean the remaining teeth (this is a more efficient process, yielding a shorter anesthesia time) B. Rinse the mouth with chlorhexidine, then extract C. Scale, polish, then extract D. Scale, polish, rinse with chlorhexidine, then extract

D. Scale, polish, rinse with chlorhexidine, then extract

When assessing and quantifying gingivitis, the modified Loe and Silness index is often referred to. According to this index, a gingival index 3 indicates: A. Clinically healthy gingiva B. Mild gingivitis with slight reddening and swelling of the gingival margins C. Moderate gingivitis, with gentle probing resulting in bleeding. D. Severe gingivitis, in which there is spontaneous hemorrhage and/or ulceration of the gingival margin

D. Severe gingivitis, in which there is spontaneous hemorrhage and/or ulceration of the gingival margin

When grading furcation involvement, which of the following descriptions is termed Grade 3? A. No furcation involvement B. The furcation can be felt with the probe/explorer, but horizontal tissue destruction is <1/3 of the horizontal width C. The furcation can be explored, but the probe cannot pass through it D. The probe can be passed through the furcation from buccal to palatal/lingual

D. The probe can be passed through the furcation from buccal to palatal/lingual

Which of the following statements is true about ultrasonic scaling: A. Ultrasonic scaling is the only method to clean a tooth surface fully B. Ultrasonic scaling causes thermal damage to the tooth if the tip is kept on the tooth for <5 seconds C. The ultrasonic scaler works by spraying the tooth with water to wash the tooth clean D. The purpose of the water spray on an ultrasonic scaler is to cool the tip of the instrument and cool the tooth to prevent pulp damage

D. The purpose of the water spray on an ultrasonic scaler is to cool the tip of the instrument and cool the tooth to prevent pulp damage

When grading tooth mobility, which of the following grades corresponds to a Grade 3? A. No mobility B. Horizontal movement <1 mm C. Horizontal movement >1 mm D. Vertical and horizontal movement

D. Vertical and horizontal movement