DDS Periodontics 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Scaling and root planing (SRP) is considered the gold standard of which type of periodontal therapy?
- Surgical therapy
- Non-surgical therapy (Correct answer)
- Maintenance therapy
- Regenerative therapy
Correct answer: Non-surgical therapy
SRP is the cornerstone of non-surgical periodontal therapy, mechanically removing calculus and biofilm from root surfaces to reduce pathogenic bacterial load.
Question 2: The Modified Widman Flap procedure was primarily designed to:
- Provide access for extensive osseous recontouring
- Provide access for root debridement while preserving maximum tissue (Correct answer)
- Eliminate pockets through tissue resection
- Create new attachment via regeneration
Correct answer: Provide access for root debridement while preserving maximum tissue
The Modified Widman Flap (Ramfjord and Nissle, 1974) prioritizes access for thorough root debridement with minimal surgical trauma and tissue sacrifice.
Question 3: Which systemic disease has the strongest bidirectional relationship with periodontitis?
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus (Correct answer)
- Hypothyroidism
- Asthma
Correct answer: Diabetes mellitus
Poorly controlled diabetes impairs neutrophil function and collagen metabolism, worsening periodontitis; conversely, periodontal infection raises blood glucose levels.
Question 4: An autogenous bone graft used in periodontal surgery is defined as bone harvested from:
- A human cadaver
- An animal source
- The patient's own body (Correct answer)
- A synthetic calcium phosphate material
Correct answer: The patient's own body
Autogenous grafts are taken from the patient (e.g., maxillary tuberosity, chin, or ramus) and are considered the gold standard because they are osteogenic, osteoinductive, and osteoconductive.
Question 5: Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) barrier membranes function by:
- Preventing bacterial contamination of the surgical site
- Excluding epithelial and gingival connective tissue cells from the healing wound (Correct answer)
- Providing structural support to damaged alveolar bone
- Stimulating osteoclast-mediated bone remodeling
Correct answer: Excluding epithelial and gingival connective tissue cells from the healing wound
GTR membranes selectively block fast-migrating epithelial and connective tissue cells, allowing slower-growing PDL and bone cells to repopulate the defect for true regeneration.
Question 6: The recommended interval for supportive periodontal therapy (maintenance) in most treated periodontitis patients is:
- Every 6 months
- Every 3–4 months (Correct answer)
- Every 12 months
- Every 1–2 months
Correct answer: Every 3–4 months
A 3–4 month maintenance interval is standard because pathogenic subgingival bacteria recolonize treated pockets within this timeframe.
Question 7: Osteoplasty in periodontal surgery is best defined as:
- Removal of alveolar bone that directly supports the tooth
- Reshaping of non-supporting bone to achieve physiologic architecture (Correct answer)
- Bone grafting of infrabony defects
- Root resection in furcation-involved teeth
Correct answer: Reshaping of non-supporting bone to achieve physiologic architecture
Osteoplasty reshapes non-supporting (non-attachment) bone to improve bony architecture without sacrificing bone that directly supports the tooth.
DDS Periodontics 2
Scaling and root planing (SRP) is considered the gold standard of which type of periodontal therapy?