ADC - Australian Dental Council Pharmacology and Pain Management Questions and Answers

Question 1

A 68-year-old patient with a history of poorly controlled asthma and a previous gastric ulcer requires post-operative analgesia following a surgical extraction.
Which of the following is the most appropriate medication to prescribe for moderate pain?

Accepted Answer

Paracetamol 1000mg

Answer

Ibuprofen 400mg

Answer

Aspirin 300mg

Answer

Mefenamic Acid 500mg

Question 2

According to the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines, which of the following is the recommended first-line antibiotic therapy for a severe, spreading odontogenic infection (e.g., cellulitis) when definitive dental treatment is likely to be delayed beyond 24 hours?

Accepted Answer

Amoxicillin with clavulanate

Answer

Phenoxymethylpenicillin alone

Answer

Clindamycin

Answer

Metronidazole alone

Question 3

A healthy 50kg adult patient requires extensive local anaesthesia for a procedure using 2% Lidocaine with 1:100,000 adrenaline. What is the absolute maximum number of standard 2.2mL Australian dental cartridges that can be safely administered?

Accepted Answer

7 cartridges

Answer

5 cartridges

Answer

10 cartridges

Answer

13 cartridges

Question 4

A patient taking Warfarin for atrial fibrillation requires an extraction. Which analgesic, if prescribed for post-operative pain, would most significantly increase the risk of bleeding by potentiating the effect of Warfarin?

Accepted Answer

Ibuprofen

Answer

Paracetamol

Answer

Codeine

Answer

Tramadol

Question 5

A 45-year-old patient with severe dental anxiety and no other medical conditions is scheduled for a lengthy procedure under oral sedation using Diazepam. Which piece of pre-operative advice is most critical for ensuring patient safety?

Accepted Answer

Arrange for an escort to drive them home from the appointment.

Answer

Take the medication with a large meal to avoid nausea.

Answer

Avoid caffeine for at least 24 hours prior to the appointment.

Answer

Double the dose if they still feel anxious one hour before.

Question 6

According to current Australian guidelines for infective endocarditis prophylaxis, which of the following patient conditions requires antibiotic cover prior to an invasive dental procedure such as an extraction?

Accepted Answer

Prosthetic heart valve

Answer

Mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation

Answer

Previous coronary artery bypass surgery

Answer

Bicuspid aortic valve