DENTAL RADIOGRAPHY EXAM 6 | DENTAL
HYGIENIST | LATEST 2025-2026 QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION
WEST COAST UNIVERSITY
1. A radiolucent lesion is present at the apex of a non-vital tooth.
Periapical radiograph suggests a well-circumscribed lesion, but CBCT
shows ill-defined borders extending into cancellous bone. The patient has
mild swelling and low-grade fever. What is the MOST accurate diagnosis?
A. Periapical granuloma
B. Radicular cyst
C. Periapical Abscess
D. Fibrous dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Systemic signs + diffuse CBCT spread indicate acute infection.
2. A multilocular radiolucency shows cortical expansion. Patient is
asymptomatic. Serial imaging over 6 years shows minimal growth. What
is BEST management?
A. Immediate resection
B. Emergency biopsy
C. Long-term surveillance with surgical consultation
D. Antibiotics
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Growth rate outweighs radiographic aggression.
3. A panoramic radiograph shows bilateral radiopaque lesions near
mandibular angles. CBCT reveals unilateral true lesion with contralateral
phantom structure. What is MOST likely explanation?
A. True bilateral disease
B. Metabolic bone disorder
C. Panoramic ghost image artifact
D. Osteosarcoma
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Panoramic imaging artifact.
,4. A radiopaque lesion is fused to root apex and is painful. Contralateral
tooth shows similar but asymptomatic radiopacity. What is MOST likely
dual interpretation?
A. Both tumors
B. Both cysts
C. Cementoblastoma + Hypercementosis
D. Both infections
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Asymmetry indicates different pathologies.
5. A radiograph shows elongation and distortion despite correct bite
registration. What is MOST likely hidden error?
A. Motion artifact
B. Processing error
C. Vertical beam angulation error
D. Overexposure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vertical angulation causes elongation.
6. A scalloped radiolucency between roots of vital teeth shows internal
septations on CBCT. What is MOST likely diagnosis?
A. Radicular cyst
B. Periapical abscess
C. Traumatic Bone Cyst
D. Fibroma
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vitality + scalloping + cavity appearance.
7. A radiograph shows widened PDL space in a localized area with
bruxism history. What is MOST likely combined mechanism?
A. Infection only
B. Malignancy
, C. Occlusal trauma + Early periodontal inflammation
D. Cyst
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Multifactorial stress response.
8. A dome-shaped sinus lesion remains unchanged, but patient develops
unilateral facial pain. What is BEST next step?
A. Ignore symptoms
B. Antibiotics only
C. ENT referral with repeat imaging
D. Extraction
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: New symptoms override stability.
9. A radiograph shows localized blur posteriorly only. What is MOST
likely cause?
A. Exposure error
B. Processing error
C. Localized motion artifact
D. Cone cut
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Regional motion artifact.
10. A radiolucent lesion shows rapid enlargement and paresthesia. CBCT
shows cortical perforation. What is MOST urgent next step?
A. Monitoring
B. Antibiotics
C. Immediate biopsy, staging, and oncology referral
D. Fluoride therapy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Neurologic involvement = emergency.
HYGIENIST | LATEST 2025-2026 QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION
WEST COAST UNIVERSITY
1. A radiolucent lesion is present at the apex of a non-vital tooth.
Periapical radiograph suggests a well-circumscribed lesion, but CBCT
shows ill-defined borders extending into cancellous bone. The patient has
mild swelling and low-grade fever. What is the MOST accurate diagnosis?
A. Periapical granuloma
B. Radicular cyst
C. Periapical Abscess
D. Fibrous dysplasia
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Systemic signs + diffuse CBCT spread indicate acute infection.
2. A multilocular radiolucency shows cortical expansion. Patient is
asymptomatic. Serial imaging over 6 years shows minimal growth. What
is BEST management?
A. Immediate resection
B. Emergency biopsy
C. Long-term surveillance with surgical consultation
D. Antibiotics
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Growth rate outweighs radiographic aggression.
3. A panoramic radiograph shows bilateral radiopaque lesions near
mandibular angles. CBCT reveals unilateral true lesion with contralateral
phantom structure. What is MOST likely explanation?
A. True bilateral disease
B. Metabolic bone disorder
C. Panoramic ghost image artifact
D. Osteosarcoma
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Panoramic imaging artifact.
,4. A radiopaque lesion is fused to root apex and is painful. Contralateral
tooth shows similar but asymptomatic radiopacity. What is MOST likely
dual interpretation?
A. Both tumors
B. Both cysts
C. Cementoblastoma + Hypercementosis
D. Both infections
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Asymmetry indicates different pathologies.
5. A radiograph shows elongation and distortion despite correct bite
registration. What is MOST likely hidden error?
A. Motion artifact
B. Processing error
C. Vertical beam angulation error
D. Overexposure
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vertical angulation causes elongation.
6. A scalloped radiolucency between roots of vital teeth shows internal
septations on CBCT. What is MOST likely diagnosis?
A. Radicular cyst
B. Periapical abscess
C. Traumatic Bone Cyst
D. Fibroma
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Vitality + scalloping + cavity appearance.
7. A radiograph shows widened PDL space in a localized area with
bruxism history. What is MOST likely combined mechanism?
A. Infection only
B. Malignancy
, C. Occlusal trauma + Early periodontal inflammation
D. Cyst
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Multifactorial stress response.
8. A dome-shaped sinus lesion remains unchanged, but patient develops
unilateral facial pain. What is BEST next step?
A. Ignore symptoms
B. Antibiotics only
C. ENT referral with repeat imaging
D. Extraction
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: New symptoms override stability.
9. A radiograph shows localized blur posteriorly only. What is MOST
likely cause?
A. Exposure error
B. Processing error
C. Localized motion artifact
D. Cone cut
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Regional motion artifact.
10. A radiolucent lesion shows rapid enlargement and paresthesia. CBCT
shows cortical perforation. What is MOST urgent next step?
A. Monitoring
B. Antibiotics
C. Immediate biopsy, staging, and oncology referral
D. Fluoride therapy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Neurologic involvement = emergency.
