NDHCE Patient Assessment 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the DMFT index measure in dental epidemiology?
- Depth of periodontal pockets in permanent teeth
- Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth in the permanent dentition (Correct answer)
- Degree of malocclusion and facial trauma
- Distribution of maximum fluoride treatment
Correct answer: Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth in the permanent dentition
The DMFT index records the number of permanent teeth that are Decayed, Missing due to caries, or Filled, providing a cumulative measure of caries experience.
Question 2: A patient's health history reveals they are taking warfarin. What precaution should the dental hygienist take?
- Refuse to treat the patient
- Consult with the prescribing physician about INR levels before invasive procedures (Correct answer)
- Double the amount of local anesthetic used
- Avoid all radiographs
Correct answer: Consult with the prescribing physician about INR levels before invasive procedures
Warfarin is an anticoagulant that increases bleeding risk; the dental hygienist should consult with the patient's physician to review current INR levels before performing subgingival scaling or other invasive procedures.
Question 3: Which of the following best describes the 'chief complaint' in a dental hygiene health history?
- The dentist's primary diagnosis
- The patient's main reason for the dental visit in their own words (Correct answer)
- The most severe finding on examination
- The insurance code for the primary procedure
Correct answer: The patient's main reason for the dental visit in their own words
The chief complaint is the patient's own description of their primary reason for seeking dental care, recorded in their own words.
Question 4: When assessing tooth mobility, a Grade II mobility reading means:
- No movement detected
- Slight movement (up to 1 mm) in a horizontal direction
- Movement greater than 1 mm in horizontal direction (Correct answer)
- Tooth is depressible in its socket
Correct answer: Movement greater than 1 mm in horizontal direction
Grade II tooth mobility indicates movement greater than 1 mm in a horizontal (buccolingual or mesiodistal) direction but no vertical movement.
Question 5: Which diagnostic test is performed by applying a cold stimulus to a tooth to assess pulp vitality?
- Electric pulp test
- Percussion test
- Thermal (cold) test (Correct answer)
- Transillumination test
Correct answer: Thermal (cold) test
The thermal cold test uses a cold stimulus (e.g., ice, refrigerant spray) to assess whether the pulp is vital by testing for a pain response.
Question 6: A patient presents with angular cheilitis, burning tongue, and generalized erythematous mucosa. Which nutritional deficiency should the dental hygienist suspect?
- Vitamin C deficiency
- B-complex vitamin deficiency (Correct answer)
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Calcium deficiency
Correct answer: B-complex vitamin deficiency
Angular cheilitis, glossitis, and erythematous mucosa are classic oral manifestations of B-complex vitamin deficiencies, particularly B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), and B12.
NDHCE Patient Assessment 2
What does the DMFT index measure in dental epidemiology?