COM Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield COM facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which of the following disorders can affect the alignment of the teeth and jaw? → Thumb sucking and mouth breathing.
2. Which of the following best describes the role of the levator veli palatini during swallowing? → Elevates the soft palate to achieve velopharyngeal closure
3. Which type of seizure is most likely to require emergency medical services (EMS) activation during a therapy session? → Tonic-clonic seizure lasting more than 5 minutes
4. What is the appropriate COM response when signs of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) are identified in a patient? → Refer the patient to a dentist or oral medicine specialist experienced in TMD management
5. Which solution is recommended by CDC for disinfecting clinical contact surfaces contaminated with blood or saliva in an oral health setting? → EPA-registered hospital disinfectant with tuberculocidal claim
6. In clinical records, 'frenum attachment at alveolar ridge' most commonly documents which structural finding? → Low labial frenum attachment that may restrict lip movement
7. The OMES-E (Orofacial Myofunctional Evaluation with Scores – Expanded) protocol evaluates orofacial functions in which standardized domains? → Face, lips, jaws, tongue, hard palate, teeth, pharynx, and speech
8. What is peer review in COM Infection Control & Prevention? → Quality evaluation by qualified colleagues for improvement
9. What is document version control in COM? → Tracking changes, identifying current versions, and maintaining history
10. When establishing treatment frequency for a pediatric orofacial myology patient, which factor should most influence scheduling decisions? → Severity of the myofunctional disorder and the child's learning capacity
11. A lip-sucking habit most commonly affects which teeth first? → Upper incisors (labioversion) and lower incisors (linguoversion)
12. Which of the following should be documented after EVERY patient session in an orofacial myology practice? → Progress note including exercises reviewed and patient compliance
13. The eustachian (auditory) tube connects the middle ear to the nasopharynx and is opened primarily by contraction of which muscle? → Tensor veli palatini
14. The submandibular gland (Wharton's duct) drains into the oral cavity at the: → Sublingual caruncle on the floor of the mouth near the lingual frenum
15. A patient discloses they are HIV positive before an orofacial myology appointment. The clinician's appropriate response is to: → Apply the same Standard Precautions used with all patients without additional restrictions
16. In clinical orofacial myofunctional practice, the 'nasal cycle' refers to: → The alternating congestion and decongestion between the two nasal passages
17. Which patient characteristic most strongly predicts successful treatment outcomes in orofacial myology? → High motivation and consistent adherence to the home exercise program
18. Which orofacial habit is most directly linked to the development of a unilateral posterior crossbite? → Prolonged pacifier use
19. Compared to mouth breathing, nasal breathing during rest is associated with: → Greater activation of the parasympathetic nervous system and calming effects
20. In the context of an orofacial myology practice, which emergency situation would most likely be triggered by latex gloves or materials used during assessment? → Anaphylaxis
21. What are the five process groups in COM project management? → Initiating, Planning, Executing, Monitoring & Controlling, Closing
22. Where should epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPen) be administered during anaphylaxis? → Outer mid-thigh through clothing
23. What is the COM's primary contribution to a multidisciplinary cleft palate team? → Evaluating and treating orofacial myofunctional patterns affecting speech and feeding
24. What is the primary function of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ)? → To enable chewing, speaking, and swallowing.
25. During nasal breathing, the turbinates (conchae) serve primarily to: → Warm, humidify, and filter incoming air
26. Which of the following documentation practices best reduces malpractice risk for an orofacial myologist? → Maintaining detailed, contemporaneous, objective session notes
27. During a tonsil grading assessment, a patient's tonsils meet at the midline. This is classified as: → Grade 4+ (kissing tonsils)
28. When should instrument packaging be inspected before using a sterilized instrument? → Immediately before use to check for package integrity and indicator color change
29. What should a COM professional do upon discovering a colleague's unethical conduct? → Report through appropriate channels with proper documentation
30. How does the dental occlusion affect the orofacial complex? → It influences jaw function and risk of TMD.