ADC ADC - Australian Dental Council Clinical Examination and Treatment Planning Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which factor is MOST important when determining the restorability of a tooth?
- Patient age
- Remaining tooth structure and crown-to-root ratio (Correct answer)
- Tooth position in the arch
- Patient preference
Correct answer: Remaining tooth structure and crown-to-root ratio
Remaining coronal tooth structure and an adequate crown-to-root ratio are the primary determinants of whether a tooth can be successfully restored.
Question 2: What is the most appropriate first step when a patient presents with acute irreversible pulpitis causing severe spontaneous pain?
- Prescribe analgesics and review in 1 week
- Perform pulpectomy or extraction to relieve the pain (Correct answer)
- Place a sedative dressing and monitor
- Take a full-mouth radiograph series
Correct answer: Perform pulpectomy or extraction to relieve the pain
Acute irreversible pulpitis requires removal of the inflamed pulp tissue (pulpectomy or extraction) to provide definitive pain relief.
Question 3: In treatment planning for a patient with multiple failing restorations and active caries, which phase should be completed first?
- Definitive prosthetic phase
- Surgical phase
- Disease control (stabilisation) phase (Correct answer)
- Aesthetic phase
Correct answer: Disease control (stabilisation) phase
The disease control (stabilisation) phase addresses active disease — caries removal, infection control, and extraction of hopeless teeth — before any definitive treatment.
Question 4: A patient reports biting the inside of their cheek repeatedly and presents with a nodule on the buccal mucosa. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- Mucocele
- Fibroma (irritation fibroma) (Correct answer)
- Lipoma
- Pleomorphic adenoma
Correct answer: Fibroma (irritation fibroma)
Repeated trauma from cheek biting commonly causes reactive fibrous hyperplasia (irritation fibroma), the most common benign soft tissue lesion in the oral cavity.
Question 5: Which clinical sign indicates inadequate ferrule effect when planning a crown for an endodontically treated tooth?
- Presence of a post and core
- Less than 2 mm of sound tooth structure above the crestal bone (Correct answer)
- Root length greater than 14 mm
- Tooth with two canals
Correct answer: Less than 2 mm of sound tooth structure above the crestal bone
A ferrule requires at least 2 mm of sound, parallel dentinal walls above the finish line; less than this compromises crown retention and fracture resistance.
Question 6: What does a positive response to percussion test most commonly indicate?
- Vital pulp with no inflammation
- Periapical inflammation or periodontitis (Correct answer)
- Healthy periodontium
- Presence of internal resorption
Correct answer: Periapical inflammation or periodontitis
Pain on percussion indicates inflammation in the periapical tissues or periodontal ligament surrounding the tooth.
ADC ADC - Australian Dental Council Clinical Examination and Treatment Planning Questions and Answers 2
Which factor is MOST important when determining the restorability of a tooth?