Caries Process and Prevention Strategies: Risk Assessment

From a patient's dental history, which of the following will indicate high caries risk? A. A history of multiple restorations. B. History of a trauma that chipped a tooth. C. Teeth with white enamel stains. D. A history of using whitening toothpaste.

A. A history of multiple restorations.

____________ medications are NOT linked to dry mouth? A. Analgesic B. Antidepressant C. Antihistamine D. Antihypertensive

A. Analgesic

When taking the patient's medical history, why is it important to look for clues that could lead to dry mouth? A. Dry mouth is a factor linked to increased risk of caries because there is insufficient saliva present in the oral cavity to remineralize teeth in an acid attack. B. Dry mouth causes oral cancer. C. Dry mouth is always a sign of serious illness. D. All of the above.

A. Dry mouth is a factor linked to increased risk of caries because there is insufficient saliva present in the oral cavity to remineralize teeth in an acid attack.

______ percent of elderly occupants in residential homes asked their caregivers to help clean their mouths? A. 50 B. 5 C. 80 D. 100

B. 5

What is the typical amount of fluoride recommended for toothpaste? A. 500 ppm to 1000 ppm B. 850 ppm to 1150 ppm C. 2000 ppm to 2500 ppm D. 2500 ppm to 3000 ppm

B. 850 ppm to 1150 ppm

Which of the following is the definition of risk factor? A. The probability that an event will occur. B. The qualitative estimation of adverse effects that may result from exposure to specific hazards. C. An environmental, biological, behavioral or social factor that directly increases the probability of a disease occurring if it is present. D. None of the above.

C. An environmental, biological, behavioral or social factor that directly increases the probability of a disease occurring if it is present.

Which of the following is NOT a tip that can help patients with dry mouth? A. Sip water frequently. B. Use a saliva substitute. C. Drink caffeinated beverages. D. None of the above.

C. Drink caffeinated beverages.

Why are patients undergoing radiotherapy at risk for dry mouth? A. Radiotherapy reduces moisture levels in the body. B. Radiotherapy causes an autoimmune reaction that dries the body's tissues. C. Radiotherapy causes damage to the salivary acinar cells, thereby hindering saliva production. D. None of the above.

C. Radiotherapy causes damage to the salivary acinar cells, thereby hindering saliva production.

During the clinical exam, which of the following is a site that is more likely to have caries? A. A front tooth that has a white enamel discoloration. B. Front teeth with a gap in between. C. Restorations with faulty margins. D. A tooth that is smooth.

C. Restorations with faulty margins.

Which of the following might help a patient with cleaning carious lesions? A. Suggesting a different angle for brushing the diseased area. B. Showing the patient where the lesion is with a radiograph and/or help of a mirror. C. Saying they should listen to you because you are a professional. D. A and B

D. A and B

In a patient with active lesions, how can a dentist determine what dietary factors or habits are caries culprits? A. Ask the patient to recall all they have consumed in a 24-hour period. B. The dentist can tell a lot from just looking at the caries lesions. C. Ask the patient to take a detailed record of all they consume over a 3-day period. D. A and C

D. A and C

How can a dentist tell if a patient has dry mouth? A. Ask the patient if he or she is experiencing discomfort because the mouth feels dry. B. Check to see if saliva is frothy. C. Look to see if the mouth mirror sticks to mucosal surfaces. D. All of the above.

D. All of the above.

What is common information to gather when collecting a patient's dental history? A. What toothpaste is used. B. How often the teeth are cleaned. C. What their caries-causing dietary habits are. D. All of the above.

D. All of the above.

Which of the following is true regarding recalling the patient after a dentist visit? A. Patients without active caries should return to the dentist once or twice a year. B. Patients at higher risk for caries and who do not have mastery over their plaque control may need to return every 2 to 3 weeks until plaque control has reached an acceptable level. C. Patients without dry mouth whose caries activity appears under control may need to be seen every 6 to 12 months. D. All of the above.

D. All of the above.

____________ is a condition that leads to dry mouth. A. Diabetes B. Sjögren's Syndrome C. Hormonal changes in menopause D. All of the above.

D. All of the above.