Maintenance Protocols Flashcards
7 cards from real ABP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Maintenance Protocols flashcards as text
Which of the following local risk factors most significantly compromises periodontal maintenance outcomes?
Answer: Furcation involvements class II or III
Class II or III furcation involvements harbor biofilm that is difficult to instrument, making them major local risk factors for maintenance failure.
The Periodontal Risk Assessment (PRA) model developed by Lang and Tonetti uses which parameter to stratify maintenance patients into risk categories?
Answer: Attachment loss rate, bleeding on probing %, environmental/systemic factors
The PRA model integrates rate of attachment loss, percentage of bleeding on probing, number of residual pockets, bone loss/age ratio, systemic factors, and smoking to determine risk.
A maintenance patient who smokes is LEAST likely to show which of the following clinical signs compared to a non-smoker with equivalent disease?
Answer: Bleeding on probing
Smoking causes vasoconstriction that masks gingival bleeding, so smokers show less bleeding on probing despite active disease.
Chemotherapeutic adjuncts such as locally delivered doxycycline (Atridox) during maintenance are MOST appropriately used in:
Answer: Isolated, non-responsive pockets ≥5 mm with active disease
Locally delivered antibiotics are best reserved for isolated non-responding pockets ≥5 mm showing signs of active disease during maintenance.
Which of the following best characterizes 'supportive periodontal therapy' (SPT) as distinct from standard prophylaxis?
Answer: SPT includes full-mouth periodontal debridement and individualized risk assessment
SPT involves comprehensive periodontal assessment, individualized risk evaluation, and subgingival debridement as needed—far beyond a routine prophylaxis.
How does patient compliance with the prescribed maintenance interval affect long-term tooth retention?
Answer: Compliant patients experience significantly lower tooth loss rates than erratic attenders
Multiple longitudinal studies demonstrate that compliant maintenance patients retain significantly more teeth over time compared to erratic or non-compliant patients.
Which radiographic finding during a maintenance visit would most urgently prompt re-evaluation for additional active therapy?
Answer: Progressive crestal bone loss at one or more sites since the last radiograph
Progressive crestal bone loss on serial radiographs indicates active disease progression and is a clear indication to re-enter active periodontal therapy.