NDEB - National Dental Examining Board Periodontal Disease and Management Questions and Answers

Question 1

A 45-year-old male patient presents with generalized probing depths of 5-6 mm, radiographic evidence of bone loss extending to the middle third of the root on several teeth, and Class II furcation involvement on tooth #30.
According to the 2017 AAP/EFP classification, what is the most appropriate Stage for this patient's periodontitis?

Accepted Answer

Stage III

Answer

Stage I

Answer

Stage II

Answer

Stage IV

Question 2

Which of the following is the primary goal of non-surgical periodontal therapy, such as scaling and root planing?

Accepted Answer

To remove biofilm and calculus to create a biologically acceptable root surface.

Answer

To regenerate lost alveolar bone.

Answer

To eliminate the need for future periodontal maintenance.

Answer

To create a new connective tissue attachment to the root surface.

Question 3

A patient diagnosed with Stage II, Grade B periodontitis is a smoker (15 cigarettes/day) and has poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes (HbA1c of 8.5%). According to the 2017 classification, how would these risk factors influence the patient's Grade?

Accepted Answer

The Grade would be shifted to C (rapid progression).

Answer

The Grade would remain B as staging is the primary determinant.

Answer

The Grade would be shifted to A (slow progression).

Answer

The Grade is independent of smoking and diabetic status.

Question 4

Host modulation therapy (HMT) in periodontics, such as the use of sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD), primarily aims to:

Accepted Answer

Inhibit the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).

Answer

Directly kill periodontal pathogens in the pocket.

Answer

Stimulate the production of new alveolar bone.

Answer

Increase the patient's immune response to plaque biofilm.

Question 5

Following successful non-surgical periodontal therapy, a patient is placed on a periodontal maintenance schedule. What is the most critical component of this long-term phase of treatment?

Accepted Answer

Ongoing professional debridement and monitoring of periodontal status.

Answer

Annual full-mouth radiographs.

Answer

Application of topical fluoride at every visit.

Answer

Regular removal of supragingival plaque only.

Question 6

Under the 2017 World Workshop classification, the diagnostic categories of "chronic periodontitis" and "aggressive periodontitis" from the 1999 system were eliminated. What was the primary reason for this change?

Accepted Answer

There was insufficient evidence of distinct pathophysiological differences between the two forms.

Answer

These conditions were found to be caused by completely different bacteria.

Answer

Aggressive periodontitis was deemed too rare to be a separate category.

Answer

Patients with aggressive periodontitis did not respond to conventional therapy.