DENTAL HYGIENE BOARD REVIEW EXAM 6 |
DENTAL HYGIENIST| DENTAL HYGIENIST |
LATEST 2025-2026 QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION WEST COAST
UNIVERSITY
1. Question
A 72-year-old patient presents with uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c 11.2%),
chronic kidney failure on dialysis, congestive heart failure, and acute
necrotizing periodontal infection with facial swelling. What is the MOST
appropriate initial action?
A. Immediate full-mouth extraction
B. Stabilize medically and coordinate emergency hospital-based
management
C. Cosmetic scaling only
D. Delay all treatment indefinitely
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Multi-system failure requires immediate medical stabilization
before any dental intervention.
2. Question
Which clinical presentation MOST strongly suggests systemic sepsis
originating from periodontal infection?
A. Local gingival bleeding only
B. Fever, tachycardia, hypotension, confusion
C. Tooth staining
D. Mild plaque accumulation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: These are classic signs of septic progression.
3. Question
,What is the FIRST priority in managing a dental patient suspected of
septic shock?
A. Dental cleaning
B. Airway, breathing, circulation stabilization and emergency activation
C. Whitening
D. Radiographs
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Septic shock is a medical emergency requiring ABC
stabilization.
4. Question
A patient on warfarin presents with INR of 6.0 and spontaneous gingival
bleeding. What is the MOST appropriate action?
A. Proceed with scaling
B. Emergency medical coordination for anticoagulation reversal
C. Ignore bleeding
D. Increase antibiotics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: INR indicates dangerously high bleeding risk.
5. Question
Which systemic disease MOST increases mortality risk from odontogenic
infections?
A. Migraine
B. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
C. Myopia
D. Mild asthma
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes severely impairs immune response.
6. Question
,A patient presents with severe trismus, dysphagia, and neck swelling.
What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
A. Gingivitis
B. Deep neck space infection
C. Tooth whitening reaction
D. Enamel erosion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: These are hallmark signs of deep fascial spread.
7. Question
What is the MOST critical intervention in airway-compromised
odontogenic infection?
A. Delay treatment
B. Emergency airway management and hospital transfer
C. Whitening
D. Routine scaling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Airway obstruction is immediately life-threatening.
8. Question
A patient on bisphosphonates requires periodontal surgery. What is the
MOST serious risk?
A. Gingival staining
B. Osteonecrosis of the jaw
C. Tooth whitening
D. Increased saliva
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bisphosphonates impair bone remodeling.
9. Question
, Which radiographic pattern indicates end-stage periodontal disease?
A. Intact lamina dura
B. Severe vertical and horizontal bone loss
C. Enlarged pulp chamber
D. Hypercementosis only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Advanced destruction shows mixed bone loss.
10. Question
A patient develops necrotizing periodontal disease with systemic fever.
What is MOST appropriate treatment?
A. Whitening only
B. Debridement and systemic antibiotics
C. No treatment
D. Extraction only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Requires immediate infection control.
11–30 FINAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE + EMERGENCY BOARD
MASTER CASES
11. Question
A postoperative patient develops hypotension, tachycardia, and confusion.
What is MOST likely?
A. Normal recovery
B. Septic shock
C. Gingivitis
D. Tooth sensitivity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Multi-system instability indicates septic shock.
DENTAL HYGIENIST| DENTAL HYGIENIST |
LATEST 2025-2026 QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION WEST COAST
UNIVERSITY
1. Question
A 72-year-old patient presents with uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c 11.2%),
chronic kidney failure on dialysis, congestive heart failure, and acute
necrotizing periodontal infection with facial swelling. What is the MOST
appropriate initial action?
A. Immediate full-mouth extraction
B. Stabilize medically and coordinate emergency hospital-based
management
C. Cosmetic scaling only
D. Delay all treatment indefinitely
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Multi-system failure requires immediate medical stabilization
before any dental intervention.
2. Question
Which clinical presentation MOST strongly suggests systemic sepsis
originating from periodontal infection?
A. Local gingival bleeding only
B. Fever, tachycardia, hypotension, confusion
C. Tooth staining
D. Mild plaque accumulation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: These are classic signs of septic progression.
3. Question
,What is the FIRST priority in managing a dental patient suspected of
septic shock?
A. Dental cleaning
B. Airway, breathing, circulation stabilization and emergency activation
C. Whitening
D. Radiographs
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Septic shock is a medical emergency requiring ABC
stabilization.
4. Question
A patient on warfarin presents with INR of 6.0 and spontaneous gingival
bleeding. What is the MOST appropriate action?
A. Proceed with scaling
B. Emergency medical coordination for anticoagulation reversal
C. Ignore bleeding
D. Increase antibiotics
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: INR indicates dangerously high bleeding risk.
5. Question
Which systemic disease MOST increases mortality risk from odontogenic
infections?
A. Migraine
B. Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
C. Myopia
D. Mild asthma
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes severely impairs immune response.
6. Question
,A patient presents with severe trismus, dysphagia, and neck swelling.
What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
A. Gingivitis
B. Deep neck space infection
C. Tooth whitening reaction
D. Enamel erosion
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: These are hallmark signs of deep fascial spread.
7. Question
What is the MOST critical intervention in airway-compromised
odontogenic infection?
A. Delay treatment
B. Emergency airway management and hospital transfer
C. Whitening
D. Routine scaling
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Airway obstruction is immediately life-threatening.
8. Question
A patient on bisphosphonates requires periodontal surgery. What is the
MOST serious risk?
A. Gingival staining
B. Osteonecrosis of the jaw
C. Tooth whitening
D. Increased saliva
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Bisphosphonates impair bone remodeling.
9. Question
, Which radiographic pattern indicates end-stage periodontal disease?
A. Intact lamina dura
B. Severe vertical and horizontal bone loss
C. Enlarged pulp chamber
D. Hypercementosis only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Advanced destruction shows mixed bone loss.
10. Question
A patient develops necrotizing periodontal disease with systemic fever.
What is MOST appropriate treatment?
A. Whitening only
B. Debridement and systemic antibiotics
C. No treatment
D. Extraction only
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Requires immediate infection control.
11–30 FINAL SYSTEM COLLAPSE + EMERGENCY BOARD
MASTER CASES
11. Question
A postoperative patient develops hypotension, tachycardia, and confusion.
What is MOST likely?
A. Normal recovery
B. Septic shock
C. Gingivitis
D. Tooth sensitivity
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Multi-system instability indicates septic shock.
