Teeth Whitening Teeth Terminology 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is 'gingivitis' and why is it relevant to whitening?
- Tooth decay that blocks whitening
- Inflammation of the gums that should be treated before whitening (Correct answer)
- Hardening of enamel from peroxide
- A type of tooth sensitivity
Correct answer: Inflammation of the gums that should be treated before whitening
Gingivitis is inflammation of the gums caused by plaque, and active gum disease should be resolved before whitening to avoid worsening irritation.
Question 2: What is 'xerostomia' and how does it relate to teeth whitening?
- Excessive saliva production that dilutes whitening gel
- Dry mouth, which can increase sensitivity and side effects during whitening (Correct answer)
- A type of enamel defect
- Cracking of whitening trays
Correct answer: Dry mouth, which can increase sensitivity and side effects during whitening
Xerostomia (dry mouth) reduces saliva's buffering capacity, potentially increasing sensitivity and discomfort during whitening treatments.
Question 3: What is the 'CEJ' (cementoenamel junction) in tooth anatomy?
- The point where two roots of the same tooth meet
- The boundary where enamel ends and cementum begins on the tooth surface (Correct answer)
- The junction between dentin and pulp
- The contact point between two adjacent teeth
Correct answer: The boundary where enamel ends and cementum begins on the tooth surface
The cementoenamel junction (CEJ) is the line on the tooth where the enamel of the crown and the cementum of the root meet.
Question 4: What does the prefix 'hypo-' mean when describing conditions like 'hypocalcification'?
- Over or excess
- Under or deficient (Correct answer)
- Around or surrounding
- Between or separating
Correct answer: Under or deficient
The prefix 'hypo-' means under or deficient, so hypocalcification means insufficient calcification or mineralization of tooth structure.
Question 5: What is 'operculum' in dental terminology?
- A whitening tray retainer clip
- A flap of gum tissue partially covering an erupting tooth (Correct answer)
- The outer layer of a primary tooth
- A calcium deposit on enamel
Correct answer: A flap of gum tissue partially covering an erupting tooth
An operculum is a flap of gingival tissue that partially covers an erupting tooth, commonly seen with wisdom teeth.
Question 6: What does 'attrition' mean in the context of tooth wear?
- Wear caused by acidic foods dissolving enamel
- Wear caused by tooth-to-tooth contact during chewing or grinding (Correct answer)
- Wear caused by overzealous brushing
- Wear caused by whitening abrasives
Correct answer: Wear caused by tooth-to-tooth contact during chewing or grinding
Attrition is the progressive loss of tooth structure caused by mechanical tooth-to-tooth contact, often related to bruxism (teeth grinding).
Question 7: What is 'abfraction' in dental terminology?
- Fracturing of enamel from biting hard foods
- Non-carious cervical lesions caused by flexural stress at the tooth's neck (Correct answer)
- Splitting of a tooth from internal pressure
- Erosion from acidic beverages
Correct answer: Non-carious cervical lesions caused by flexural stress at the tooth's neck
Abfraction lesions are notch-like defects at the cervical area of teeth believed to result from flexural forces during occlusal loading.
Teeth Whitening Teeth Terminology 5
What is 'gingivitis' and why is it relevant to whitening?