DDS Dental Pharmacology and Anesthesia 3

Question 1

The inferior alveolar nerve block anesthetizes which teeth and structures?

Accepted Answer

Ipsilateral mandibular teeth from the third molar to the midline, plus lingual gingiva and tongue

Answer

The IANB anesthetizes the ipsilateral mandibular teeth (to the midline), the lingual gingiva and anterior two-thirds of the tongue (via the lingual nerve), and the lower lip and chin (via the mental nerve).

Question 2

Tetracyclines are contraindicated in children under 8 years old primarily because they:

Accepted Answer

Bind to calcium in developing teeth and bone, causing permanent discoloration and enamel hypoplasia

Answer

Tetracyclines chelate calcium and incorporate into mineralizing structures, causing intrinsic yellow-brown tooth staining and enamel hypoplasia in children under 8 during crown development.

Question 3

Which drug interaction requires dose reduction or avoidance when prescribing erythromycin or clarithromycin to a dental patient taking simvastatin?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of CYP3A4 increases simvastatin levels, raising risk of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis

Answer

Erythromycin and clarithromycin inhibit CYP3A4, reducing first-pass metabolism of simvastatin and dramatically increasing its plasma levels, which can cause severe myopathy or rhabdomyolysis.

Question 4

Cocaine is unique among local anesthetics used clinically because it:

Accepted Answer

Is used topically due to its intrinsic vasoconstrictive and local anesthetic properties

Answer

Cocaine is unique in both blocking sodium channels (local anesthesia) and inhibiting norepinephrine reuptake (vasoconstriction), making it useful topically in nasal/ENT surgery but not injected dental anesthesia.

Question 5

When administering a Gow-Gates mandibular nerve block, the target landmark for needle placement is:

Accepted Answer

The neck of the mandibular condyle, below the lateral pterygoid muscle insertion

Answer

The Gow-Gates technique targets the condylar neck, anesthetizing the entire mandibular nerve division (V3) at a single high injection point.

DDS - Doctor of Dental Surgery Practice Test

DDS - Doctor of Dental Surgery Practice Test

DDS Dental Pharmacology and Anesthesia 3