DDS Practice 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A patient presents with a fractured maxillary central incisor involving the pulp. The tooth is fully developed with a closed apex. What is the most appropriate initial treatment?
- Direct pulp capping with MTA
- Pulpotomy
- Root canal treatment (Correct answer)
- Extraction and implant placement
Correct answer: Root canal treatment
A fully developed tooth with pulp exposure from trauma is best treated with root canal therapy to prevent infection and preserve the tooth.
Question 2: When taking a full-mouth series of periapical radiographs, the paralleling technique is preferred over bisecting angle because it:
- Requires less radiation exposure
- Produces less image distortion and more accurate representation (Correct answer)
- Is easier to perform on patients with small mouths
- Requires fewer films
Correct answer: Produces less image distortion and more accurate representation
The paralleling technique minimizes geometric distortion because the film is parallel to the tooth's long axis and the X-ray beam is perpendicular to both.
Question 3: A 35-year-old patient has a 5 mm probing depth at a mandibular molar with bleeding on probing and 3 mm of clinical attachment loss. How would you classify this finding?
- Gingivitis
- Stage I periodontitis
- Stage II periodontitis (Correct answer)
- Stage III periodontitis
Correct answer: Stage II periodontitis
Stage II periodontitis is characterized by clinical attachment loss of 3–4 mm and probing depths of 5–6 mm.
Question 4: Which local anesthetic is CONTRAINDICATED in a patient with a documented allergy to para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) derivatives?
- Lidocaine
- Mepivacaine
- Procaine (Correct answer)
- Bupivacaine
Correct answer: Procaine
Procaine is an ester-type anesthetic that is metabolized to PABA, making it contraindicated in patients with PABA allergies.
Question 5: During a crown preparation, the dentist notices the preparation has a 2-degree taper. What is the clinical consequence?
- The crown will have poor aesthetics
- The preparation may lack adequate retention (Correct answer)
- The crown will have excessive retention, risking fracture
- No clinical consequence; 2 degrees is ideal
Correct answer: The preparation may lack adequate retention
Optimal taper for crown preparations is 10–20 degrees; a 2-degree taper makes seating the crown difficult and may impede full seating.
Question 6: A patient undergoing extraction requires anticoagulation management. Their INR is 2.8. What is the best course of action?
- Postpone extraction until INR is below 1.5
- Proceed with extraction using local hemostatic measures (Correct answer)
- Consult physician to stop anticoagulants 5 days before
- Administer vitamin K to reverse anticoagulation
Correct answer: Proceed with extraction using local hemostatic measures
Current evidence supports proceeding with dental extractions when INR is ≤3.5 using local hemostatic measures, avoiding systemic anticoagulation reversal.
Question 7: Which cement is most appropriate for final cementation of a zirconia crown?
- Zinc phosphate
- Polycarboxylate
- Glass ionomer
- Resin cement (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Resin cement
Resin cement provides optimal bond strength to zirconia, especially when used with appropriate surface treatment and primers.
DDS Practice 2
A patient presents with a fractured maxillary central incisor involving the pulp.
The tooth is fully developed with a closed apex.
What is the most appropriate initial treatment?