Dental Dental Procedures — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a dental prophylaxis?
- A root canal
- A professional dental cleaning that removes plaque, calculus, and stains (Correct answer)
- A tooth extraction
- An x-ray
Correct answer: A professional dental cleaning that removes plaque, calculus, and stains
Prophylaxis (prophy) is a preventive dental cleaning performed by a hygienist or dentist to remove plaque, tartar, and surface stains.
Question 2: What is the purpose of dental radiographs (X-rays)?
- To whiten teeth
- To visualize structures not visible clinically, including decay between teeth, bone levels, and impacted teeth (Correct answer)
- To straighten teeth
- To clean teeth
Correct answer: To visualize structures not visible clinically, including decay between teeth, bone levels, and impacted teeth
Dental X-rays reveal problems hidden from visual examination, including interproximal cavities, bone loss, abscesses, cysts, and impacted teeth.
Question 3: What is a dental crown?
- A tiara for teeth
- A tooth-shaped cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance (Correct answer)
- A type of filling
- A teeth whitening procedure
Correct answer: A tooth-shaped cap placed over a damaged tooth to restore its shape, size, strength, and appearance
Crowns cover the entire visible portion of a tooth above the gumline, used when teeth are severely decayed, fractured, or after root canal treatment.
Question 4: What is scaling and root planing?
- A cosmetic procedure
- A deep cleaning procedure to treat gum disease by removing plaque and calculus from below the gumline (Correct answer)
- A tooth extraction method
- A type of braces adjustment
Correct answer: A deep cleaning procedure to treat gum disease by removing plaque and calculus from below the gumline
Scaling removes tartar above and below the gumline, while root planing smooths the root surfaces to promote gum tissue reattachment and healing.
Question 5: What is a dental implant?
- A temporary filling
- A titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone to serve as an artificial tooth root for a replacement tooth (Correct answer)
- A type of denture adhesive
- A tooth whitening agent
Correct answer: A titanium post surgically placed in the jawbone to serve as an artificial tooth root for a replacement tooth
Dental implants replace missing teeth with a biocompatible titanium post that integrates with the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for crowns, bridges, or dentures.
Question 6: What is fluoride treatment used for?
- Whitening teeth
- Strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to acid attacks and decay (Correct answer)
- Removing cavities
- Straightening teeth
Correct answer: Strengthening tooth enamel and making it more resistant to acid attacks and decay
Fluoride remineralizes weakened enamel and makes teeth more resistant to acid produced by bacteria, reducing the risk of cavities.
Dental Dental Procedures
What is a dental prophylaxis?