EFDA Patient Assessment & Care Planning 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When recording a patient's dental chart, the symbol used to indicate a missing tooth is:
- An X through the tooth (Correct answer)
- A circle around the tooth number
- A horizontal line through the tooth
- A triangle next to the tooth
Correct answer: An X through the tooth
A missing tooth is commonly charted with an X through the crown and root in the dental record.
Question 2: A patient reports jaw clicking and limited mouth opening. Which structure is most likely involved?
- Masseter muscle
- Temporomandibular joint (Correct answer)
- Parotid gland
- Lateral pterygoid nerve
Correct answer: Temporomandibular joint
Clicking sounds and limited opening are hallmark signs of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, often due to disc displacement.
Question 3: Which type of consent must be obtained before performing any dental procedure?
- Implied consent
- Informed consent (Correct answer)
- Oral consent only
- Parental consent for all adults
Correct answer: Informed consent
Informed consent requires explaining the procedure, risks, benefits, and alternatives so the patient can make an educated decision before treatment.
Question 4: During caries risk assessment, which factor places a patient in the HIGH risk category?
- Regular fluoride use
- Low sugar intake
- Presence of active cavities (Correct answer)
- Sealants on all molars
Correct answer: Presence of active cavities
Active carious lesions are a strong indicator of high caries risk, reflecting an imbalance between pathologic and protective factors.
Question 5: When evaluating furcation involvement of a molar, a Class II furcation indicates:
- No furcation involvement detectable
- The probe can enter the furcation but not pass through (Correct answer)
- The probe passes completely through the furcation
- Furcation involvement with bone loss to the apex
Correct 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.
Question 6: A pediatric patient's chart shows teeth #A through #T. What does this notation indicate?
- Universal numbering for permanent teeth
- Primary (deciduous) dentition using letter notation (Correct answer)
- Quadrant numbering system
- Palmer notation for mixed dentition
Correct 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.
Question 7: Which finding during soft tissue examination requires immediate referral to an oral surgeon or oncologist?
- A small aphthous ulcer that appeared 3 days ago
- A firm, non-healing ulcer present for more than 2 weeks (Correct answer)
- Mild gingival erythema around a crown margin
- A fordyce spot on the buccal mucosa
Correct 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.
EFDA Patient Assessment & Care Planning 4
When recording a patient's dental chart, the symbol used to indicate a missing tooth is: