Dental Hygiene Local Anesthesia Exam
ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 | Dental Hygiene
Anesthesia Certification | Verified Q&A |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1 – Orofacial Anatomy & Nerve Innervation (Questions 1–15)
Q1: Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the mandibular posterior teeth (molars and
premolars)?
A. Buccal nerve
B. Lingual nerve
C. Inferior alveolar nerve [CORRECT]
D. Mental nerve
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular division (V3) that enters the
mandibular foramen and supplies all mandibular teeth via its dental branches.
Q2: A dental hygienist needs to anesthetize tooth #7 (maxillary right central incisor). Which of the
following nerves must be blocked?
A. Posterior superior alveolar nerve
B. Anterior superior alveolar nerve [CORRECT]
C. Middle superior alveolar nerve
D. Nasopalatine nerve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The anterior superior alveolar nerve (ASA) branches from the infraorbital nerve and provides
pulpal innervation to maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines.
Q3: The pterygomandibular space is the target landmark for which injection?
A. Greater palatine block
B. Inferior alveolar nerve block [CORRECT]
C. Infraorbital block
D. Mental nerve block
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The inferior alveolar nerve block deposits anesthetic solution near the inferior alveolar nerve
as it enters the mandibular foramen, located within the pterygomandibular space.
,Q4: Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the buccal gingiva and mucosa of the mandibular
molars?
A. Inferior alveolar nerve
B. Buccal nerve [CORRECT]
C. Lingual nerve
D. Mental nerve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The buccal nerve (long buccal nerve) is a branch of V3 that supplies sensory innervation to
the buccal mucosa and gingiva of the mandibular molars and second premolars.
Q5: A patient requires anesthesia for scaling and root planing on teeth #2 and #3. Which nerve must be
anesthetized to achieve pulpal anesthesia for these teeth?
A. Anterior superior alveolar nerve
B. Middle superior alveolar nerve
C. Posterior superior alveolar nerve [CORRECT]
D. Infraorbital nerve
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The posterior superior alveolar nerve (PSA) provides pulpal innervation to maxillary molars
(except mesiobuccal root of first molar in some patients) and must be blocked for procedures on teeth
#2 and #3.
Q6: The nasopalatine nerve provides sensory innervation to which anatomical area?
A. Buccal gingiva of maxillary anterior teeth
B. Palatal tissue from canine to canine [CORRECT]
C. Palatal tissue of maxillary molars
D. Lingual gingiva of mandibular anterior teeth
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nasopalatine nerve exits the incisive foramen and supplies the palatal mucosa and
gingiva from the maxillary canine to canine, including the anterior palatal region.
Q7: Which foramen serves as the exit point for the mental nerve?
A. Mandibular foramen
B. Mental foramen [CORRECT]
C. Infraorbital foramen
D. Greater palatine foramen
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The mental nerve, a terminal branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, exits the mandible
through the mental foramen located near the apices of the mandibular premolars.
Q8: The greater palatine nerve provides sensory innervation to which area?
A. Soft palate and uvula
B. Hard palate posterior to the canine [CORRECT]
C. Maxillary facial gingiva
, D. Mandibular lingual gingiva
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The greater palatine nerve exits the greater palatine foramen and supplies the hard palate
and palatal gingiva from the first premolar posteriorly to the soft palate junction.
Q9: Which nerve is responsible for sensory innervation of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
A. Hypoglossal nerve
B. Glossopharyngeal nerve
C. Lingual nerve [CORRECT]
D. Chorda tympani nerve
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The lingual nerve, a branch of V3, provides general sensory innervation to the anterior two-
thirds of the tongue, including pain, temperature, and touch sensation.
Q10: A dental hygienist needs to anesthetize the facial gingiva of teeth #8 and #9. Which nerve provides
this innervation?
A. Anterior superior alveolar nerve [CORRECT]
B. Nasopalatine nerve
C. Infraorbital nerve
D. Greater palatine nerve
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The anterior superior alveolar nerve provides sensory innervation to the facial gingiva and
periodontal ligaments of maxillary central and lateral incisors.
Q11: The infraorbital nerve is a continuation of which trigeminal division?
A. Ophthalmic division (V1)
B. Maxillary division (V2) [CORRECT]
C. Mandibular division (V3)
D. Facial nerve (CN VII)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The infraorbital nerve is the terminal branch of the maxillary division (V2) that exits through
the infraorbital foramen to supply the lower eyelid, lateral nose, upper lip, and facial gingiva of maxillary
anterior teeth.
Q12: Which nerve must be anesthetized to achieve lingual gingival anesthesia for mandibular molars
during scaling and root planing?
A. Inferior alveolar nerve
B. Lingual nerve [CORRECT]
C. Buccal nerve
D. Mylohyoid nerve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The lingual nerve provides sensory innervation to the lingual gingiva and mucosa of the
ACTUAL EXAM 2026/2027 | Dental Hygiene
Anesthesia Certification | Verified Q&A |
Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1 – Orofacial Anatomy & Nerve Innervation (Questions 1–15)
Q1: Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the mandibular posterior teeth (molars and
premolars)?
A. Buccal nerve
B. Lingual nerve
C. Inferior alveolar nerve [CORRECT]
D. Mental nerve
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The inferior alveolar nerve is a branch of the mandibular division (V3) that enters the
mandibular foramen and supplies all mandibular teeth via its dental branches.
Q2: A dental hygienist needs to anesthetize tooth #7 (maxillary right central incisor). Which of the
following nerves must be blocked?
A. Posterior superior alveolar nerve
B. Anterior superior alveolar nerve [CORRECT]
C. Middle superior alveolar nerve
D. Nasopalatine nerve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The anterior superior alveolar nerve (ASA) branches from the infraorbital nerve and provides
pulpal innervation to maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines.
Q3: The pterygomandibular space is the target landmark for which injection?
A. Greater palatine block
B. Inferior alveolar nerve block [CORRECT]
C. Infraorbital block
D. Mental nerve block
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The inferior alveolar nerve block deposits anesthetic solution near the inferior alveolar nerve
as it enters the mandibular foramen, located within the pterygomandibular space.
,Q4: Which nerve provides sensory innervation to the buccal gingiva and mucosa of the mandibular
molars?
A. Inferior alveolar nerve
B. Buccal nerve [CORRECT]
C. Lingual nerve
D. Mental nerve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The buccal nerve (long buccal nerve) is a branch of V3 that supplies sensory innervation to
the buccal mucosa and gingiva of the mandibular molars and second premolars.
Q5: A patient requires anesthesia for scaling and root planing on teeth #2 and #3. Which nerve must be
anesthetized to achieve pulpal anesthesia for these teeth?
A. Anterior superior alveolar nerve
B. Middle superior alveolar nerve
C. Posterior superior alveolar nerve [CORRECT]
D. Infraorbital nerve
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The posterior superior alveolar nerve (PSA) provides pulpal innervation to maxillary molars
(except mesiobuccal root of first molar in some patients) and must be blocked for procedures on teeth
#2 and #3.
Q6: The nasopalatine nerve provides sensory innervation to which anatomical area?
A. Buccal gingiva of maxillary anterior teeth
B. Palatal tissue from canine to canine [CORRECT]
C. Palatal tissue of maxillary molars
D. Lingual gingiva of mandibular anterior teeth
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The nasopalatine nerve exits the incisive foramen and supplies the palatal mucosa and
gingiva from the maxillary canine to canine, including the anterior palatal region.
Q7: Which foramen serves as the exit point for the mental nerve?
A. Mandibular foramen
B. Mental foramen [CORRECT]
C. Infraorbital foramen
D. Greater palatine foramen
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The mental nerve, a terminal branch of the inferior alveolar nerve, exits the mandible
through the mental foramen located near the apices of the mandibular premolars.
Q8: The greater palatine nerve provides sensory innervation to which area?
A. Soft palate and uvula
B. Hard palate posterior to the canine [CORRECT]
C. Maxillary facial gingiva
, D. Mandibular lingual gingiva
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The greater palatine nerve exits the greater palatine foramen and supplies the hard palate
and palatal gingiva from the first premolar posteriorly to the soft palate junction.
Q9: Which nerve is responsible for sensory innervation of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?
A. Hypoglossal nerve
B. Glossopharyngeal nerve
C. Lingual nerve [CORRECT]
D. Chorda tympani nerve
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The lingual nerve, a branch of V3, provides general sensory innervation to the anterior two-
thirds of the tongue, including pain, temperature, and touch sensation.
Q10: A dental hygienist needs to anesthetize the facial gingiva of teeth #8 and #9. Which nerve provides
this innervation?
A. Anterior superior alveolar nerve [CORRECT]
B. Nasopalatine nerve
C. Infraorbital nerve
D. Greater palatine nerve
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The anterior superior alveolar nerve provides sensory innervation to the facial gingiva and
periodontal ligaments of maxillary central and lateral incisors.
Q11: The infraorbital nerve is a continuation of which trigeminal division?
A. Ophthalmic division (V1)
B. Maxillary division (V2) [CORRECT]
C. Mandibular division (V3)
D. Facial nerve (CN VII)
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The infraorbital nerve is the terminal branch of the maxillary division (V2) that exits through
the infraorbital foramen to supply the lower eyelid, lateral nose, upper lip, and facial gingiva of maxillary
anterior teeth.
Q12: Which nerve must be anesthetized to achieve lingual gingival anesthesia for mandibular molars
during scaling and root planing?
A. Inferior alveolar nerve
B. Lingual nerve [CORRECT]
C. Buccal nerve
D. Mylohyoid nerve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The lingual nerve provides sensory innervation to the lingual gingiva and mucosa of the
