AGD Clinical Skills & Patient Care in General Dentistry 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient reports sensitivity to sweets that resolves within seconds after removal of the stimulus. Which condition BEST explains this finding?
- Irreversible pulpitis
- Reversible pulpitis
- Cracked tooth syndrome
- Dentinal hypersensitivity (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Dentinal hypersensitivity
Dentinal hypersensitivity is characterized by sharp, short-duration pain in response to osmotic stimuli like sweets, resolving immediately upon removal.
Question 2: The landmark used to determine the proper vertical dimension when mounting casts for complete denture fabrication is:
- Philtrum length
- Inter-occlusal rest space and phonetics (Correct answer)
- Nasion-to-menton distance only
- Upper lip length at rest
Correct answer: Inter-occlusal rest space and phonetics
Vertical dimension of occlusion is established by subtracting the inter-occlusal rest space (freeway space, ~2–4 mm) from the vertical dimension of rest, confirmed with phonetics.
Question 3: During operative dentistry, which caries removal technique minimizes the risk of pulp exposure in a deep lesion of a tooth with no pulpal symptoms?
- Complete excavation in one visit
- Stepwise excavation (Correct answer)
- Air abrasion removal
- Bur excavation to DEJ only
Correct answer: Stepwise excavation
Stepwise excavation involves partial removal of infected dentin in the first visit, placing a biocompatible base, and completing removal months later after reactionary dentin formation.
Question 4: Which pharmacological agent is the FIRST-LINE choice for managing acute anaphylaxis during a dental procedure?
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) 50 mg IM
- Epinephrine 1:1,000 — 0.3 mg IM (Correct answer)
- Hydrocortisone 100 mg IV
- Albuterol inhaler 2 puffs
Correct answer: Epinephrine 1:1,000 — 0.3 mg IM
Epinephrine 1:1,000 (0.3 mg intramuscularly in the mid-outer thigh) is the definitive first-line treatment for anaphylaxis.
Question 5: In Class II composite resin placement, the PRIMARY purpose of a sectional matrix system with a separating ring is to:
- Prevent moisture contamination
- Achieve a tight proximal contact and proper contour (Correct answer)
- Reduce polymerization shrinkage
- Improve color matching
Correct answer: Achieve a tight proximal contact and proper contour
Sectional matrix systems with separating rings create proper proximal contour and tight interproximal contacts, which are the most challenging aspects of Class II restorations.
Question 6: A dentist discovers an incidental 8 mm radiolucent lesion at the apex of a non-restored vital tooth on a panoramic radiograph. What is the most appropriate next step?
- Immediate extraction of the tooth
- Periapical radiograph and vitality testing (Correct answer)
- Immediate referral for root canal therapy
- Place the patient on antibiotics and recheck in 6 months
Correct answer: Periapical radiograph and vitality testing
A periapical radiograph provides better detail and vitality testing determines pulp status before any definitive treatment decision is made.
Question 7: Which statement BEST describes the concept of 'selective enamel etching' in adhesive dentistry?
- Etching only the carious portions of enamel
- Applying phosphoric acid to enamel margins only when using a self-etch adhesive (Correct answer)
- Etching dentin preferentially to increase bond strength
- Using laser etching on enamel surfaces only
Correct answer: Applying phosphoric acid to enamel margins only when using a self-etch adhesive
Selective enamel etching applies 35–37% phosphoric acid only to enamel when using a self-etch adhesive to enhance the enamel bond without over-etching dentin.
AGD Clinical Skills & Patient Care in General Dentistry 3
A patient reports sensitivity to sweets that resolves within seconds after removal of the stimulus.
Which condition BEST explains this finding?