ADEX Dental Hygiene Process of Care 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the assessment phase, a dental hygienist notices gingival bleeding on probing in posterior sextants only. Which periodontal classification best describes localized bleeding without bone loss?
- Stage I periodontitis
- Gingivitis associated with dental biofilm (Correct answer)
- Stage II periodontitis
- Necrotizing periodontal disease
Correct answer: Gingivitis associated with dental biofilm
Bleeding on probing without attachment or bone loss is consistent with gingivitis associated with dental biofilm per the 2017 classification.
Question 2: A dental hygienist is planning care for a patient with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes. Which intervention is MOST appropriate to include in the initial care plan?
- Defer all treatment until HbA1c is below 7%
- Provide full-mouth debridement and coordinate with the physician (Correct answer)
- Limit appointments to supragingival scaling only
- Prescribe systemic antibiotics before any instrumentation
Correct answer: Provide full-mouth debridement and coordinate with the physician
Dental hygienists should provide debridement and communicate with the patient's physician to coordinate glycemic management.
Question 3: Which probing depth measurement indicates the transition from healthy sulcus to a pathologic periodontal pocket?
- 2 mm
- 3 mm
- 4 mm (Correct answer)
- 6 mm
Correct answer: 4 mm
A probing depth of 4 mm or greater is generally classified as a pathologic pocket requiring clinical intervention.
Question 4: A patient reports taking warfarin. Which assessment finding is MOST critical to document before instrumentation?
- Blood pressure reading
- INR value (Correct answer)
- Fasting blood glucose
- Pulse oximetry reading
Correct answer: INR value
The INR (International Normalized Ratio) determines bleeding risk for patients on warfarin and must be within a safe range before instrumentation.
Question 5: When evaluating a panoramic radiograph, which landmark indicates the floor of the nasal cavity?
- Mental foramen
- Nasal fossa (Correct answer)
- Incisive foramen
- Coronoid process
Correct answer: Nasal fossa
The nasal fossa appears on panoramic radiographs as a radiolucent oval shadow representing the floor of the nasal cavity.
Question 6: Which of the following BEST describes the purpose of a dental hygiene diagnosis?
- Identify medical diseases requiring physician referral
- Label oral conditions the dental hygienist is licensed to treat (Correct answer)
- Establish a definitive disease diagnosis for the record
- Determine the patient's chief complaint
Correct answer: Label oral conditions the dental hygienist is licensed to treat
The dental hygiene diagnosis identifies oral health problems within the dental hygienist's scope that guide individualized care planning.
Question 7: A patient has a 6 mm pocket at the distobuccal of tooth #3 with Class II furcation involvement. What does 'Class II furcation' mean?
- The probe can enter but not completely pass through the furcation (Correct answer)
- The probe passes completely through the furcation
- There is no bone loss at the furcation
- The furcation is visible but not probeable
Correct answer: The probe can enter but not completely pass through the furcation
Class II furcation involvement means the probe enters horizontally but does not exit the opposite side of the furcation.
ADEX Dental Hygiene Process of Care 2
During the assessment phase, a dental hygienist notices gingival bleeding on probing in posterior sextants only.
Which periodontal classification best describes localized bleeding without bone loss?