Practice Test Geeks(AGD) Academy of General Dentistry Certification Practice Test
← All AGD Flashcard Decks

Dental Pharmacology Flashcards

7 cards from real AGD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Dental Pharmacology flashcards as text

  1. What is the first-line antibiotic for treating odontogenic infections in patients without penicillin allergy?

    Answer: Amoxicillin

    Amoxicillin is the drug of choice for odontogenic infections due to its broad spectrum, excellent oral bioavailability, good bone penetration, and low toxicity.

  2. Metronidazole is particularly effective in treating periodontal and odontogenic infections because it is active against:

    Answer: Strict anaerobic microorganisms

    Metronidazole specifically targets strict anaerobes, which are the predominant pathogens in periodontal disease and many odontogenic infections.

  3. Which antibiotic causes permanent intrinsic staining of developing teeth when administered to children under age 8?

    Answer: Tetracycline

    Tetracycline chelates calcium ions in mineralizing tissues, permanently incorporating into dentin and enamel and causing yellow-brown discoloration.

  4. Clavulanic acid is added to amoxicillin (Augmentin) primarily because it:

    Answer: Inhibits bacterial beta-lactamase enzymes

    Clavulanic acid is a beta-lactamase inhibitor that protects amoxicillin from enzymatic degradation by resistant bacteria, restoring its antibacterial activity.

  5. Clindamycin exerts its antibacterial effect by:

    Answer: Binding to the 50S ribosomal subunit and inhibiting protein synthesis

    Clindamycin binds to the 50S ribosomal subunit, blocking translocation and inhibiting bacterial protein synthesis, making it primarily bacteriostatic.

  6. The combination of amoxicillin plus metronidazole is used in aggressive periodontal therapy because:

    Answer: Together they cover both Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans and strict anaerobes

    Amoxicillin targets A. actinomycetemcomitans (a key aggressive periodontitis pathogen) while metronidazole covers strict anaerobes, providing complementary coverage.

  7. A penicillin-allergic patient requires antibiotic prophylaxis before a dental procedure. According to AHA guidelines, an appropriate alternative is:

    Answer: Azithromycin 500 mg orally

    Azithromycin (or clarithromycin) 500 mg orally 30–60 minutes before the procedure is an AHA-recommended alternative for penicillin-allergic patients.