NDHCE Patient Assessment 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a comprehensive dental hygiene assessment, which index measures the accumulation of supragingival calculus?
- Plaque Index (PI)
- Calculus Index (CI) (Correct answer)
- Gingival Index (GI)
- Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR)
Correct answer: Calculus Index (CI)
The Calculus Index (CI) component of the Oral Hygiene Index-Simplified (OHI-S) specifically measures supragingival and subgingival calculus deposits.
Question 2: A patient's blood pressure reading is 145/95 mmHg. According to AHA guidelines, this is classified as:
- Normal
- Elevated
- Stage 1 hypertension (Correct answer)
- Stage 2 hypertension
Correct answer: Stage 1 hypertension
According to the 2017 AHA/ACC guidelines, a blood pressure of 130–139/80–89 mmHg is Stage 1 hypertension; 145/95 mmHg falls in the Stage 1 to Stage 2 range and is classified as Stage 2 hypertension — however, 140–159/90–99 is Stage 2.
Question 3: When probing a pocket, the dental hygienist records a reading of 5 mm with bleeding on probing. This finding indicates:
- Normal sulcus depth with healthy tissue
- Early gingivitis only
- Moderate to advanced periodontitis with inflammation (Correct answer)
- A healthy pocket requiring no treatment
Correct answer: Moderate to advanced periodontitis with inflammation
A probing depth of 5 mm combined with bleeding on probing indicates periodontal pocket formation with active inflammation, consistent with moderate periodontitis.
Question 4: Which of the following medical conditions requires a physician consultation before dental hygiene treatment due to risk of infective endocarditis?
- Type 2 diabetes
- Prosthetic heart valve (Correct answer)
- Controlled hypertension
- Seasonal allergies
Correct answer: Prosthetic heart valve
Patients with prosthetic heart valves are at high risk for infective endocarditis and may require antibiotic prophylaxis before invasive dental procedures.
Question 5: Which assessment tool is used to evaluate a patient's level of dental anxiety before treatment?
- Modified Bass Technique scale
- Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) (Correct answer)
- Gingival Bleeding Index
- DMFT index
Correct answer: Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS)
The Corah Dental Anxiety Scale (DAS) is a validated 4-question tool used to assess a patient's level of dental anxiety before treatment.
Question 6: During an extraoral examination, the dental hygienist palpates a hard, non-movable lymph node in the neck. What is the clinical significance of this finding?
- Normal anatomical variant requiring no action
- Sign of local acute infection only
- Possible malignancy requiring immediate referral (Correct answer)
- Indication of poor oral hygiene
Correct answer: Possible malignancy requiring immediate referral
Hard, fixed (non-movable) lymph nodes are associated with malignancy and warrant immediate referral to a physician for further evaluation.
NDHCE Patient Assessment 1
During a comprehensive dental hygiene assessment, which index measures the accumulation of supragingival calculus?