OSCE EXAM 2026 STUDY GUIDE
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Stillman's Method. Answer: Bristles are positioned on the gums rather
than into the pockets and directed at a 45 degree angle.
◉ Charter's Method. Answer: Bristles are directed occlusally, away
from the gingiva. Useful for cleaning orthodontic brackets, prosthesis,
and areas treated with surgeries.
◉ Fone's Method. Answer: Bristles are moved in large circular motion
on the buccal and lingual surfaces. Useful for children, those physically
impaired, or adults who lack manual dexterity.
◉ Fluoride Varnish. Answer: -Dries immediately upon contact with
saliva. -Does not require a professional prophylaxis beforehand. -Can eat
and drink immediately after. -Avoid brushing, rigorous rinsing, or hard
foods for 3 to 4 hours. -Easier and more effective method.
◉ Fluoride recommendations. Answer: Recommended for patients who
have xerostomia, high caries risk, undergoing cancer therapy, or
orthodontics.
◉ Fluoride Gel or Foam (office application). Answer: -Applied onto tray
and placed in patient's mouth usually for 4 minutes (Read manufacturer's
,label). -Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 30 minutes. -Most popular types
are 1.23% APF and 2% Neutral sodium fluoride.
◉ Stannous Fluoride. Answer: -0.4% available for non-prescription use.
-1% neutral sodium fluoride gels available for prescription use. -Can
cause extrinsic staining (especially in patients with inadequate plaque
control).
◉ Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride (APF). Answer: -Do NOT use on
composites, porcelain, or sealant materials as it causes pitting and
roughening. -Also avoid on root surfaces.
◉ Neutral Sodium Fluoride. Answer: Agent of choice on root caries,
implants, cosmetic restorations, and reduced salivary flow.
◉ Second trimester. Answer: Safest trimester for dental treatment.
◉ Pregnancy gingivitis. Answer: -Caused by an elevation of hormones
estrogen and progesterone. Hormones increase can cause exaggerated
gingival response to microorganisms.
◉ Pyrogenic granuloma (Pregnancy tumor). Answer: Localized area of
gingival enlargement, typically involving interdental papilla, usually
diminishes after delivery of baby.
,◉ Category of LA for pregnant patients. Answer: Category B (lidocaine
and prilocaine).
◉ Nitrous oxide sedation in pregnant patients. Answer: Relative
contraindication (gas interferes with the absorption of B-12 and other
nutrients).
◉ Early Childhood Caries (ECC) index. Answer: Presence of 1 or more
areas of decay on a child younger than 6 years of age.
◉ Severe-Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) index. Answer: Presence of
decay in a child younger than 3 years old.
◉ Child's first dental appointment. Answer: Should occur within 6
months of the eruption of the first tooth or before 1-year of age.
◉ First brushing of a child's teeth. Answer: Should start when the first
tooth appears.
◉ Erosion causes. Answer: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa
◉ Anorexia Nervosa. Answer: Extreme weight loss caused by self-
starvation, excessive exercise, use of laxatives, self-induced vomiting.
◉ Bulimia Nervosa. Answer: Compulsive disorder that involves periods
of starvation, binging, and purging.
, ◉ Signs and Symptoms of erosion. Answer: Dental caries from
vomiting, Perimolysis: erosion from vomiting mostly on the maxillary
lingual surfaces. Raised appearance of restoration margins.
◉ Abrasion. Answer: V-shaped notch in the gingival portion of the
facial aspect of the tooth. Results from forces of friction between the
teeth or external objects. Can happen from improper brushing technique
or the use of a toothpick or pipe.
◉ Attrition. Answer: Results from forces between the teeth. Wear on the
incised and occlusal surfaces from grinding.
◉ Abfraction. Answer: Biomechanical destruction related to fatigue,
flexure, and deformation of tooth structure. Can appear as a wedge-
shaped lesion at the cervical third of the tooth.
◉ Most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay. Answer:
Community Water Fluoridation
◉ New recommended level of fluoride. Answer: 0.7 ppm
◉ Old level of fluoride. Answer: 0.7-1.2 ppm
◉ HIV can cause. Answer: Linear gingival erythema, Kaposi Sarcoma,
Delayed healing, Larger than usual ulcers, Candidiasis, Etc.
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◉ Stillman's Method. Answer: Bristles are positioned on the gums rather
than into the pockets and directed at a 45 degree angle.
◉ Charter's Method. Answer: Bristles are directed occlusally, away
from the gingiva. Useful for cleaning orthodontic brackets, prosthesis,
and areas treated with surgeries.
◉ Fone's Method. Answer: Bristles are moved in large circular motion
on the buccal and lingual surfaces. Useful for children, those physically
impaired, or adults who lack manual dexterity.
◉ Fluoride Varnish. Answer: -Dries immediately upon contact with
saliva. -Does not require a professional prophylaxis beforehand. -Can eat
and drink immediately after. -Avoid brushing, rigorous rinsing, or hard
foods for 3 to 4 hours. -Easier and more effective method.
◉ Fluoride recommendations. Answer: Recommended for patients who
have xerostomia, high caries risk, undergoing cancer therapy, or
orthodontics.
◉ Fluoride Gel or Foam (office application). Answer: -Applied onto tray
and placed in patient's mouth usually for 4 minutes (Read manufacturer's
,label). -Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 30 minutes. -Most popular types
are 1.23% APF and 2% Neutral sodium fluoride.
◉ Stannous Fluoride. Answer: -0.4% available for non-prescription use.
-1% neutral sodium fluoride gels available for prescription use. -Can
cause extrinsic staining (especially in patients with inadequate plaque
control).
◉ Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride (APF). Answer: -Do NOT use on
composites, porcelain, or sealant materials as it causes pitting and
roughening. -Also avoid on root surfaces.
◉ Neutral Sodium Fluoride. Answer: Agent of choice on root caries,
implants, cosmetic restorations, and reduced salivary flow.
◉ Second trimester. Answer: Safest trimester for dental treatment.
◉ Pregnancy gingivitis. Answer: -Caused by an elevation of hormones
estrogen and progesterone. Hormones increase can cause exaggerated
gingival response to microorganisms.
◉ Pyrogenic granuloma (Pregnancy tumor). Answer: Localized area of
gingival enlargement, typically involving interdental papilla, usually
diminishes after delivery of baby.
,◉ Category of LA for pregnant patients. Answer: Category B (lidocaine
and prilocaine).
◉ Nitrous oxide sedation in pregnant patients. Answer: Relative
contraindication (gas interferes with the absorption of B-12 and other
nutrients).
◉ Early Childhood Caries (ECC) index. Answer: Presence of 1 or more
areas of decay on a child younger than 6 years of age.
◉ Severe-Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) index. Answer: Presence of
decay in a child younger than 3 years old.
◉ Child's first dental appointment. Answer: Should occur within 6
months of the eruption of the first tooth or before 1-year of age.
◉ First brushing of a child's teeth. Answer: Should start when the first
tooth appears.
◉ Erosion causes. Answer: Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa
◉ Anorexia Nervosa. Answer: Extreme weight loss caused by self-
starvation, excessive exercise, use of laxatives, self-induced vomiting.
◉ Bulimia Nervosa. Answer: Compulsive disorder that involves periods
of starvation, binging, and purging.
, ◉ Signs and Symptoms of erosion. Answer: Dental caries from
vomiting, Perimolysis: erosion from vomiting mostly on the maxillary
lingual surfaces. Raised appearance of restoration margins.
◉ Abrasion. Answer: V-shaped notch in the gingival portion of the
facial aspect of the tooth. Results from forces of friction between the
teeth or external objects. Can happen from improper brushing technique
or the use of a toothpick or pipe.
◉ Attrition. Answer: Results from forces between the teeth. Wear on the
incised and occlusal surfaces from grinding.
◉ Abfraction. Answer: Biomechanical destruction related to fatigue,
flexure, and deformation of tooth structure. Can appear as a wedge-
shaped lesion at the cervical third of the tooth.
◉ Most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay. Answer:
Community Water Fluoridation
◉ New recommended level of fluoride. Answer: 0.7 ppm
◉ Old level of fluoride. Answer: 0.7-1.2 ppm
◉ HIV can cause. Answer: Linear gingival erythema, Kaposi Sarcoma,
Delayed healing, Larger than usual ulcers, Candidiasis, Etc.
