Free DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery MCQ Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: One of her close relatives passed away from mouth cancer, and the 32-year-old woman does not smoke or consume alcohol. She has asked you for guidance on preventing oral cancer. Which of the following is most likely to lower her chances of acquiring oral carcinoma?
- Eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables daily. (Correct answer)
- Avoid spicy food.
- Take a multi-vitamin tablet daily.
- Maintain excellent oral hygiene.
Correct answer: Eat at least five portions of fruit or vegetables daily.
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables provides antioxidants and other protective compounds that can help reduce the risk of various cancers, including oral cancer. While good oral hygiene is important for overall oral health, and multivitamins might supplement, a balanced diet with ample produce has stronger evidence for cancer prevention. Avoiding spicy food has no direct link to oral cancer prevention.
Question 2: A lady, 53, has been identified as having "burning mouth syndrome." In this condition, what area of the mouth is most usually affected?
- Lips
- Hard palate
- Tongue (Correct answer)
- Soft palate
Correct answer: Tongue
Burning Mouth Syndrome (BMS) is a chronic pain condition characterized by a burning sensation in the mouth without any identifiable oral lesions or systemic disease. The tongue, particularly the anterior two-thirds and the tip, is the most commonly affected site. Patients often describe the sensation as scalding or tingling, sometimes accompanied by altered taste or dry mouth.
Question 3: A 39-year-old man with severe anxiety goes to the dentist for treatment. His doctor has suggested medicine to help him control his generalized anxiety problem in the long run. Which of the following medicines has his doctor most likely given him?
- Fluoxetine (Correct answer)
- Diazepam
- Clozapine
- Amitriptyline
Correct answer: Fluoxetine
Fluoxetine is a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) commonly prescribed for the long-term management of generalized anxiety disorder and depression. While benzodiazepines like diazepam are used for acute anxiety, SSRIs are preferred for chronic conditions due to their efficacy in sustained symptom reduction and lower risk of dependence. Clozapine is an antipsychotic, and amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant, less commonly first-line for GAD.
Question 4: In guided tissue regeneration, which of the following cell populations is the main progenitor for a new connective tissue attachment?
- Gingival fibroblasts
- Periodontal ligament fibroblasts (Correct answer)
- Cell rests of Malassez
- Alveolar bone stem cells
Correct answer: Periodontal ligament fibroblasts
In guided tissue regeneration (GTR), periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts are crucial because they possess the capacity to differentiate into cementoblasts and osteoblasts. These cells are essential for forming new cementum, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone, which collectively constitute a new functional connective tissue attachment. Other cell types like gingival fibroblasts would lead to epithelial downgrowth or scar tissue, not true regeneration of the attachment apparatus.
Question 5: A 25-year-old man is attacked. He has a fracture of the left zygomatic arch and will need surgery. Which of the following muscles is attached to the superior edge of the zygomatic bone's arch?
- Masseter
- Medial pterygoid
- Temporalis (Correct answer)
- Lateral pterygoid
Correct answer: Temporalis
The temporalis muscle is a large, fan-shaped muscle of mastication that originates from the temporal fossa and fascia. Its fibers converge into a tendon that passes deep to the zygomatic arch. This tendon inserts onto the coronoid process and anterior border of the ramus of the mandible, making the temporalis muscle's tendon the primary muscle attached to the superior edge of the zygomatic arch as it passes underneath.
Question 6: You are creating an occlusal rest seat on the left first premolar of the mandible for a partial cobalt chrome denture. Which of the following best defines the ideal depth at which the marginal ridge should be decreased?
- 2.0 mm
- 1.5 mm (Correct answer)
- 0.5 mm
- 1.0 mm
Correct answer: 1.5 mm
An ideal occlusal rest seat for a partial cobalt chrome denture requires sufficient depth to provide adequate bulk and strength to the metal rest. A depth of 1.5 mm on the marginal ridge ensures that the rest can withstand occlusal forces without fracturing, while also preventing the rest from interfering with the opposing dentition. This dimension allows for proper rigidity and support of the denture.
Question 7: When you work in dental public health, you are asked to help plan a study to find out what benefits fluoridating the water supply has for the people in the area. Which of the following research designs, if any, is the most appropriate?
- Cohort study
- Cross-sectional study
- Randomized controlled trial (Correct answer)
- Case-control study
Correct answer: Randomized controlled trial
A Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) is the most appropriate research design for evaluating the benefits of water fluoridation because it is considered the gold standard for establishing cause-and-effect relationships. By randomly assigning communities or individuals to receive fluoridated water or a control, RCTs minimize bias and confounding factors. This allows researchers to confidently attribute any observed health benefits, such as reduced caries rates, directly to the intervention.
One of her close relatives passed away from mouth cancer, and the 32-year-old woman does not smoke or consume alcohol.
She has asked you for guidance on preventing oral cancer.
Which of the following is most likely to lower her chances of acquiring oral carcinoma?