NBDHE Patient Education and Preventive Dentistry 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dental hygienist is counseling a pregnant patient about oral health. Which statement is MOST accurate?
- Routine cleanings should be avoided in the first trimester
- Pregnancy itself causes tooth loss and cannot be prevented
- Periodontal disease in pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes (Correct answer)
- Fluoride is contraindicated during pregnancy
Correct answer: Periodontal disease in pregnancy is associated with adverse birth outcomes
Research has linked maternal periodontal disease to preterm birth and low birth weight, making prenatal periodontal care clinically important.
Question 2: Which method is the GOLD STANDARD for assessing a patient's oral hygiene status at home?
- Patient self-report
- Disclosing agents with plaque index (Correct answer)
- Gingival inflammation scoring
- X-ray interpretation
Correct answer: Disclosing agents with plaque index
Disclosing agents stain plaque to make it visible, enabling accurate quantification using a plaque index during patient instruction.
Question 3: The Snyder test measures which property of saliva?
- Salivary pH buffering capacity
- Cariogenic potential via acid production from glucose (Correct answer)
- Salivary flow rate
- Streptococcus mutans count
Correct answer: Cariogenic potential via acid production from glucose
The Snyder test is a colorimetric test that assesses the acid-producing ability of salivary bacteria using a glucose medium.
Question 4: Which sealant material is most commonly used for pit-and-fissure sealants in permanent molars?
- Glass ionomer cement
- Zinc oxide eugenol
- Resin-based composite sealant (Correct answer)
- Amalgam
Correct answer: Resin-based composite sealant
Resin-based sealants provide superior retention and are the most widely used material for pit-and-fissure caries prevention on occlusal surfaces.
Question 5: Which motivational interviewing principle is BEST demonstrated when a dental hygienist says, 'It sounds like you're concerned about your child's sweet snacks and their effect on cavities'?
- Developing discrepancy
- Rolling with resistance
- Reflective listening (Correct answer)
- Affirming self-efficacy
Correct answer: Reflective listening
Reflective listening involves restating or paraphrasing what the patient said to demonstrate understanding and encourage further conversation.
Question 6: Which factor MOST strongly predicts caries risk in a patient?
- Low saliva pH only
- Past caries experience (Correct answer)
- Poor toothbrushing frequency alone
- High sucrose intake alone
Correct answer: Past caries experience
Past caries experience is the single strongest predictor of future caries risk, as it reflects cumulative biological and behavioral factors.
NBDHE Patient Education and Preventive Dentistry 2
A dental hygienist is counseling a pregnant patient about oral health.
Which statement is MOST accurate?