DMD - Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry Pharmacology and Therapeutics Questions and Answers

Question 1

A 45-year-old male patient with a history of hypertension and taking lisinopril presents for a tooth extraction.
He reports significant dental anxiety.
Which of the following anxiolytic agents would be most appropriate to administer, considering his medical history?

Accepted Answer

Lorazepam

Answer

Diazepam

Answer

Triazolam

Answer

Hydroxyzine

Question 2

A patient undergoing a routine dental cleaning suddenly complains of chest pain, shortness of breath, and pain radiating to their left arm. You suspect a myocardial infarction. After activating emergency medical services, what is the most appropriate initial pharmacological intervention?

Accepted Answer

Provide a chewable 325 mg aspirin.

Answer

Administer a sublingual dose of nitroglycerin.

Answer

Administer supplemental oxygen.

Answer

Inject 0.3 mg of epinephrine intramuscularly.

Question 3

Which of the following local anesthetics is classified as an ester and is more likely to cause an allergic reaction due to its metabolism to para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)?

Accepted Answer

Procaine

Answer

Lidocaine

Answer

Mepivacaine

Answer

Articaine

Question 4

A patient presents with a severe, localized odontogenic infection with swelling and purulence. They have a known allergy to penicillin, which resulted in anaphylaxis. Which of the following antibiotics would be the most appropriate alternative?

Accepted Answer

Clindamycin

Answer

Amoxicillin

Answer

Cephalexin

Answer

Tetracycline

Question 5

A patient taking warfarin for atrial fibrillation requires a surgical extraction. The dentist receives a recent INR reading of 4.5. What is the most appropriate course of action?

Accepted Answer

Postpone the procedure and consult with the patient's physician to adjust the warfarin dose.

Answer

Proceed with the extraction using local hemostatic measures.

Answer

Administer vitamin K to reverse the effects of warfarin before the procedure.

Answer

Advise the patient to stop taking warfarin for two days prior to the extraction.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the mechanism of action for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen in managing dental pain?

Accepted Answer

Inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, reducing prostaglandin synthesis.

Answer

Agonism of mu-opioid receptors in the central nervous system.

Answer

Blockade of sodium channels in peripheral nerves.

Answer

Increasing the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine.