Patient Assessment & Evaluation Flashcards
7 cards from real CDC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Patient Assessment & Evaluation flashcards as text
A dental consultant evaluating radiographs identifies a 'soap bubble' or multilocular radiolucency of the posterior mandible. This is most suspicious for:
Answer: Ameloblastoma
Ameloblastoma classically presents as a multilocular 'soap bubble' or 'honeycomb' radiolucency in the posterior mandible.
When performing an extraoral assessment, which lymph node chain is palpated first to systematically screen for head and neck pathology?
Answer: Submandibular nodes
A systematic extraoral exam typically begins with the preauricular nodes or follows a consistent pattern; submandibular nodes drain much of the oral cavity and are a key early checkpoint.
A patient presents with a chief complaint of sensitivity to sweets. Which condition is most likely when sensitivity resolves immediately upon removal of the stimulus?
Answer: Reversible pulpitis or early dentin hypersensitivity
Sensitivity that resolves quickly after removal of the stimulus (sweet or cold) indicates reversible pulpitis or dentinal hypersensitivity with vital, recoverable pulp.
During an occlusal evaluation, the dental consultant notes that the patient's mandible shifts laterally upon full closure. This finding is called:
Answer: Centric relation-centric occlusion discrepancy with a lateral slide
A lateral slide from centric relation to centric occlusion indicates a CR-CO discrepancy, which can contribute to TMJ dysfunction and tooth wear.
A consultant reviewing dental records for a Medicaid patient must determine if radiographs were taken at appropriate intervals. According to standard guidelines, bitewing radiographs for a high-caries-risk adult patient should be taken every:
Answer: 6 to 12 months
For high-caries-risk adult patients, bitewing radiographs are recommended every 6 to 12 months per ADA/FDA radiographic guidelines.
In the context of insurance utilization review, a dental consultant finds that a provider has submitted claims for periodontal scaling and root planing (SRP) on the same quadrant within 24 months repeatedly. The most appropriate consultant action is:
Answer: Flag for review as SRP retreatment frequency may indicate inappropriate billing or inadequate initial treatment
Repeated SRP on the same quadrant within short intervals warrants utilization review to determine clinical necessity and appropriateness of the original treatment.
Which component of the comprehensive dental examination specifically evaluates the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and should be documented during patient assessment?
Answer: Mallampati score and pharyngeal airway assessment
The Mallampati score and visual assessment of the pharyngeal airway help screen for obstructive sleep apnea risk during a comprehensive dental evaluation.