VTNE VTNE Dentistry and Oral Health 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Why is dental polishing performed after ultrasonic scaling in veterinary dental procedures?
- To whiten the teeth cosmetically
- To smooth enamel micro-scratches and reduce plaque adhesion (Correct answer)
- To apply fluoride treatment
- To check for fractures
Correct answer: To smooth enamel micro-scratches and reduce plaque adhesion
Polishing smooths the micro-scratches left by scaling instruments, creating a surface less hospitable to bacterial plaque adhesion.
Question 2: What is the term for an abnormal tooth position or bite relationship in veterinary patients?
- Oligodontia
- Malocclusion (Correct answer)
- Hypodontia
- Ankylosis
Correct answer: Malocclusion
Malocclusion refers to any abnormal alignment or occlusal relationship between the upper and lower dental arcades.
Question 3: What is the normal gingival sulcus depth in a healthy cat?
- 0–1 mm
- 1–3 mm (Correct answer)
- 3–5 mm
- 5–7 mm
Correct answer: 1–3 mm
In cats, a normal gingival sulcus depth is 0–1 mm; depths greater than 1 mm suggest periodontal pocketing.
Question 4: During a veterinary dental procedure, which anesthetic monitoring parameter is especially important to watch due to the risk of bradycardia?
- End-tidal CO2
- Heart rate and rhythm (Correct answer)
- Blood glucose
- Packed cell volume
Correct answer: Heart rate and rhythm
Dental procedures can stimulate the trigeminal nerve causing vagally mediated bradycardia, making heart rate monitoring critical throughout.
Question 5: Which tooth surface in veterinary dentistry faces the tongue or hard palate?
- Buccal
- Labial
- Lingual/palatal (Correct answer)
- Mesial
Correct answer: Lingual/palatal
The lingual surface faces the tongue on mandibular teeth, while the palatal surface faces the hard palate on maxillary teeth.
Question 6: What is the interradicular bone, and why is its integrity important in dental assessment?
- Bone overlying the root tip; indicates root length
- Bone between the roots of multi-rooted teeth; loss indicates furcation involvement (Correct answer)
- The cortical plate of the jaw; fracture risk indicator
- Bone adjacent to the periodontal ligament; measures root ankylosis
Correct answer: Bone between the roots of multi-rooted teeth; loss indicates furcation involvement
Interradicular bone lies between the roots of multi-rooted teeth, and its loss indicates furcation exposure (F1–F3), a key severity marker in periodontal disease.
VTNE VTNE Dentistry and Oral Health 2
Why is dental polishing performed after ultrasonic scaling in veterinary dental procedures?