Clinical Skills & Patient Care in General Dentistry Flashcards
7 cards from real AGD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Clinical Skills & Patient Care in General Dentistry flashcards as text
When performing a pulp vitality test, which method is considered the MOST reliable for assessing pulp status in a mature permanent tooth?
Answer: Laser Doppler flowmetry
Laser Doppler flowmetry measures actual blood flow and is the most reliable indicator of pulp vitality, though thermal and electric tests are more commonly used in practice.
A patient presents with a 3 mm probing depth, no bleeding on probing, and no radiographic bone loss. How is this classified?
Answer: Healthy periodontium
A probing depth of ≤3 mm with no bleeding on probing and no bone loss indicates a healthy periodontium by the 2017 AAP/EFP classification.
Which local anesthetic has the longest duration of action for pulpal anesthesia during an inferior alveolar nerve block?
Answer: 0.5% Bupivacaine with 1:200,000 epinephrine
Bupivacaine 0.5% provides the longest pulpal anesthesia (up to 90 minutes) and is preferred for lengthy procedures.
During crown preparation, the ideal total occlusal convergence (taper) for a full-coverage crown is approximately:
Answer: 6–12 degrees
A total occlusal convergence of 6–12 degrees provides optimal retention and resistance form for full-coverage crown preparations.
A patient taking warfarin needs a simple extraction. The INR result is 2.8. What is the most appropriate course of action?
Answer: Proceed with extraction using local hemostatic measures
Current guidelines support proceeding with simple extractions in patients with an INR ≤3.5 using local hemostatic measures without altering anticoagulation therapy.
Which suture material is MOST appropriate for closing a flap in an area where the patient is unlikely to return for suture removal?
Answer: 4-0 polyglycolic acid (Vicryl)
Polyglycolic acid (Vicryl) is a resorbable suture that eliminates the need for a removal appointment, making it ideal for patients with poor follow-up compliance.
When taking a bite-wing radiograph, the horizontal angulation error results in which image artifact?
Answer: Overlapping of contact areas
Incorrect horizontal angulation causes the X-ray beam to strike the contact areas obliquely, producing overlapping (superimposition) of proximal surfaces.