EFDA Patient Assessment & Care Planning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During medical history review, a patient reports taking warfarin. What is the primary concern for dental treatment?
- Increased infection risk
- Prolonged bleeding time (Correct answer)
- Drug-induced xerostomia
- Elevated blood pressure
Correct answer: Prolonged bleeding time
Warfarin is an anticoagulant that prolongs bleeding time, requiring coordination with the patient's physician before invasive procedures.
Question 2: When assessing a patient's blood pressure, the reading is 142/91 mmHg. How should this be classified according to AHA guidelines?
- Normal
- Elevated
- Stage 1 hypertension (Correct answer)
- Stage 2 hypertension
Correct answer: Stage 1 hypertension
A reading of 130-139/80-89 mmHg is Stage 1 hypertension; 142/91 falls within Stage 2 (≥140/≥90) per AHA guidelines.
Question 3: Which component of the extraoral examination involves palpating the lymph nodes of the neck?
- Temporomandibular joint assessment
- Cervical lymph node palpation (Correct answer)
- Salivary gland assessment
- Cranial nerve screening
Correct answer: Cervical lymph node palpation
Cervical lymph node palpation is performed during the extraoral exam to detect enlargement that may indicate infection or malignancy.
Question 4: A patient presents with a chief complaint of sensitivity to cold that lingers for 30 seconds. Which pulpal diagnosis is most consistent with this finding?
- Normal pulp
- Reversible pulpitis
- Irreversible pulpitis (Correct answer)
- Pulp necrosis
Correct answer: Irreversible pulpitis
Lingering pain after cold stimulation lasting more than a few seconds indicates irreversible pulpitis, suggesting the pulp cannot heal.
Question 5: What does the ASA Physical Status Classification System assess?
- Periodontal disease severity
- Patient's overall medical risk for dental treatment (Correct answer)
- Oral hygiene compliance level
- Caries risk category
Correct answer: Patient's overall medical risk for dental treatment
The ASA classification (I–VI) categorizes a patient's systemic health status to guide risk assessment before procedures.
Question 6: During the intraoral soft tissue exam, you note a white patch on the lateral border of the tongue that cannot be wiped off. What is the appropriate action?
- Document and recheck at next recall
- Refer for biopsy (Correct answer)
- Treat with antifungal rinse
- Apply topical corticosteroid
Correct answer: Refer for biopsy
Leukoplakia that cannot be wiped off should be referred for biopsy to rule out dysplasia or malignancy.
Question 7: Which index is used to measure the extent and severity of periodontal disease in a patient's mouth?
- DMFT index
- Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR) (Correct answer)
- OHI-S index
- Plaque Control Record
Correct answer: Periodontal Screening and Recording (PSR)
The PSR (Periodontal Screening and Recording) is a quick screening index using a WHO probe to assess periodontal health across six sextants.
EFDA Patient Assessment & Care Planning 2
During medical history review, a patient reports taking warfarin.
What is the primary concern for dental treatment?