Patient Assessment & Care Planning Flashcards

When recording a patient's dental chart, the symbol used to indicate a missing tooth is:

Answer: An X through the tooth

A missing tooth is commonly charted with an X through the crown and root in the dental record.

A patient reports jaw clicking and limited mouth opening. Which structure is most likely involved?

Answer: Temporomandibular joint

Clicking sounds and limited opening are hallmark signs of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, often due to disc displacement.

Which type of consent must be obtained before performing any dental procedure?

Answer: Informed consent

Informed consent requires explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives so the patient can make an educated decision before treatment.

During caries risk assessment, which factor places a patient in the HIGH risk category?

Answer: Presence of active cavities

Active carious lesions are a strong indicator of high caries risk, reflecting an imbalance between pathologic and protective factors.

When evaluating furcation involvement of a molar, a Class II furcation indicates:

Answer: The probe can enter the furcation but not pass through

Class II furcation means the probe enters the furcation horizontally but does not pass through to the other side.

A pediatric patient's chart shows teeth #A through #T. What does this notation indicate?

Answer: Primary (deciduous) dentition using letter notation

The Universal System designates primary teeth with letters A through T, starting from the upper right second molar to the lower right second molar.

Which finding during soft tissue examination requires immediate referral to an oral surgeon or oncologist?

Answer: A firm, non-healing ulcer present for more than 2 weeks

A persistent, non-healing ulcer lasting more than 2 weeks is a red flag for oral cancer and requires biopsy and specialist referral.