CPT CPT Nutrition & Systemic Health Connections 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which class of antihypertensive medication is most commonly associated with drug-influenced gingival overgrowth?
- Metformin
- Calcium channel blockers (e.g., nifedipine) (Correct answer)
- Beta-blockers
- ACE inhibitors
Correct answer: Calcium channel blockers (e.g., nifedipine)
Calcium channel blockers, particularly nifedipine, are commonly associated with drug-influenced gingival overgrowth as a side effect.
Question 2: Osteoporosis may affect periodontal outcomes because:
- It increases plaque accumulation on teeth
- Reduced systemic bone mineral density may influence alveolar bone loss severity (Correct answer)
- It directly causes gingival recession
- Osteoporosis has no established relationship to periodontal disease
Correct answer: Reduced systemic bone mineral density may influence alveolar bone loss severity
Reduced systemic bone mineral density in osteoporosis may be associated with greater alveolar bone loss and more severe periodontal disease progression.
Question 3: Which blood test is most useful for monitoring periodontal disease management in a diabetic patient?
- Fasting blood glucose
- HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) (Correct answer)
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Serum albumin
Correct answer: HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin)
HbA1c reflects average blood glucose over 2–3 months and is the best indicator of long-term glycemic control relevant to periodontal disease management.
Question 4: Smoking affects periodontal disease outcomes by:
- Reducing plaque accumulation on teeth
- Masking clinical signs of inflammation while worsening bone loss (Correct answer)
- Improving the host immune response
- Reducing probing pocket depth measurements
Correct answer: Masking clinical signs of inflammation while worsening bone loss
Smoking causes vasoconstriction that masks clinical signs like bleeding on probing, while simultaneously impairing immune function and accelerating bone loss.
Question 5: A patient on long-term bisphosphonate therapy requires special periodontal consideration because of risk of:
- Increased bleeding tendency
- Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) (Correct answer)
- Drug-induced gingival overgrowth
- Accelerated bone regeneration
Correct answer: Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ)
Bisphosphonates can cause medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ), particularly following invasive dental procedures, requiring careful treatment planning.
Question 6: Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with periodontal disease because vitamin D:
- Is unrelated to periodontal tissues
- Plays a role in calcium homeostasis and immune modulation affecting bone and gingival health (Correct answer)
- Primarily affects tooth enamel formation only
- Only affects dental caries risk
Correct answer: Plays a role in calcium homeostasis and immune modulation affecting bone and gingival health
Vitamin D plays a critical role in calcium metabolism, bone mineralization, and immune function, all of which influence periodontal health and disease progression.
CPT CPT Nutrition & Systemic Health Connections 2
Which class of antihypertensive medication is most commonly associated with drug-influenced gingival overgrowth?