ABP Periodontal Anatomy 4

Question 1

In multirooted teeth, the furcation entrance is most commonly narrower than the diameter of standard periodontal curettes. What is the clinical significance?

Accepted Answer

Standard instruments cannot fully debride furcation concavities, requiring specialized tools

Answer

Furcation entrances (often <1 mm) are narrower than most curette blades (~0.75–1.2 mm), necessitating use of mini-bladed curettes, ultrasonic tips, or rotary instruments.

Question 2

Which anatomical feature of cementum distinguishes it from bone in that it lacks?

Accepted Answer

Blood supply and nerve supply

Answer

Unlike bone, cementum is avascular and has no direct nerve supply; it receives nutrition by diffusion from the periodontal ligament.

Question 3

Root concavities on the mesial surface of maxillary first premolars are clinically important because they:

Accepted Answer

Create areas inaccessible to instrumentation, predisposing to residual calculus

Answer

Mesial root concavities on maxillary first premolars create troughs that trap calculus and are difficult to scale, contributing to periodontitis progression.

Question 4

The cortical plate of the alveolar bone is typically thinnest on which surface of the mandibular anterior teeth?

Accepted Answer

Buccal cortical plate

Answer

The buccal cortical plate overlying the mandibular anterior teeth is very thin (sometimes fenestrated or dehiscent), making these teeth susceptible to recession with orthodontic proclination.

Question 5

The junctional epithelium (JE) differs from oral epithelium in that the JE:

Accepted Answer

Exhibits rapid cell turnover (4–6 days) and is non-keratinized

Answer

The JE has a rapid turnover rate of approximately 4–6 days (vs. ~10–12 days for oral epithelium) and is non-keratinized, providing a permeable barrier at the gingival sulcus.

(ABP) American Board of Periodontology Practice Test

(ABP) American Board of Periodontology Practice Test

ABP Periodontal Anatomy 4