Periodontics Flashcards

Which microorganism is most strongly associated with localized aggressive periodontitis (formerly localized juvenile periodontitis)?

Answer: Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) is the primary pathogen in localized aggressive periodontitis, found in up to 90% of affected sites.

A free gingival graft harvested from the palate primarily provides which benefit?

Answer: Increases zone of attached gingiva

Free gingival grafts are used primarily to widen the zone of keratinized/attached gingiva in areas of inadequate tissue.

Chlorhexidine gluconate reduces supragingival plaque primarily through which mechanism?

Answer: Disrupting bacterial cell membranes via electrostatic binding

Chlorhexidine's cationic molecule binds to negatively charged bacterial cell membranes, altering permeability and causing cell death.

Which of the following best describes the biologic width?

Answer: The combined dimension of junctional epithelium and supracrestal connective tissue attachment

Biologic width (~2 mm) is the combined height of the junctional epithelium (~1 mm) and supracrestal connective tissue attachment (~1 mm).

Osseous resective surgery is most indicated when the goal is to:

Answer: Create a positive architecture by eliminating infrabony defects

Osseous resective surgery reshapes bone to create a positive (scalloped) architecture that allows better plaque control.

Which of the following is a contraindication to periodontal surgery?

Answer: INR of 3.8 in a patient on warfarin therapy

An INR above 3.5 indicates excessive anticoagulation and a significant bleeding risk, requiring medical consultation before elective surgery.

The pinkish stippled appearance of healthy attached gingiva is due to:

Answer: Rete peg interdigitation and collagen bundles in the lamina propria

Stippling results from the interdigitation of epithelial rete pegs with connective tissue papillae and underlying dense collagen bundles.