Chapter 19: Nutritional Aspects of Gingivitis and Periodontal Disease
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. As with dental caries, nutrition has direct involvement in periodontal disease. Suppuration, an
increased oral clearance time of food, contributes to both periodontal disease and dental
caries.
a. Both statements are true.
b. Both statements are false.
c. The first statement is true; the second is false.
d. The first statement is false; the second is true.
ANS: B
The involvement of nutrition in periodontal disease is not as clear as it is for dental caries. The
predisposing, etiologic, and contributing factors of periodontal disease are diverse; however,
the primary initiating agent is biofilm accumulation around teeth and gingiva. Suppuration is
the formation or discharge of pus.
REF: p. 382
2. Which of the following is most likely to initiate periodontal disease?
a. Nutrient deficiencies
b. Nutrient excesses
c. Nutrient imbalances
d. Plaque biofilm
e. Megadoses of supplements
ANS: D
The primary initiating agent of periodontal disease is plaque biofilm accumulation around
teeth and gingiva. Nutrient deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances do not initiate periodontal
disease. Megadoses of supplements neither prevent nor cure periodontal disease.
REF: p. 382
3. Bacterial growth and plaque formation are enhanced by a diet with frequent intake of retentive
carbohydrates. Gingivitis is an irreversible change in the interdental papillary tissues.
a. Both statements are true.
b. Both statements are false.
c. The first statement is true; the second is false.
d. The first statement is false; the second is true.
ANS: C
Retentive fermentable carbohydrates are prime culprits in the propagation of bacteria
responsible for initiation of gingivitis. Tissue changes in gingivitis are numerous, including
alterations in the interdental papillary tissues; however, gingivitis is often reversible with
appropriate oral hygiene techniques. This disease illustrates the preventive and therapeutic
role of dental hygienists in helping patients learn to prevent and treat oral diseases.
REF: p. 384
, 4. Gingivitis is usually reversible because there is no loss of connective tissue or bone support.
a. Both the statement and the reason are correct and related.
b. Both the statement and the reason are correct but are not related.
c. The statement is correct, but the reason is not correct.
d. The statement is not correct, but the reason is correct.
e. Neither the statement nor the reason is correct.
ANS: A
Gingivitis is categorized as a reversible disease because there is no loss of connective tissue or
bone support. Although pocket readings may be deeper than normal in a patient with
gingivitis, the increase in depth is due to inflammation of the gingival tissues. After removal
of local irritants (plaque and calculus) by a dental hygienist and optimal oral hygiene
procedures by the patient, gingival tissues can return to normal. If left untreated, gingivitis can
progress to periodontal disease.
REF: p. 382
5. The physical effects of food on periodontal health are varied. Each of the following accurately
describes aspects of the physical effects of food on periodontal health except one. Which one
is the exception?
a. Supragingival plaque biofilm adhesion is influenced by frequent consumption of
monosaccharides.
b. Supragingival plaque biofilm adhesion is influenced by frequent consumption of
disaccharides.
c. Local irritating factors in conjunction such as plaque biofilm influence biofilm
formation and adhesion.
d. Chewing soft, spongy foods stimulates salivary flow.
ANS: D
Chewing firm, coarse, and fibrous foods such as fruits and vegetables stimulates salivary
flow. Conversely, foods with soft and spongy texture tend to stick in pits and fissures, and
they have minimal ability to stimulate salivary flow. Supragingival plaque and biofilm
adhesion is influenced by frequent consumption of both monosaccharides and disaccharides,
particularly sucrose. Note that frequency of consumption is more of a determinant of
cariogenicity than the amount of carbohydrate consumed is.
REF: p. 383
6. Which of the following combination of situations is most likely to increase risk of severity of
periodontal disease?
a. Local irritating factors in combination with systemic factors
b. Local irritating factors alone
c. Systemic factors
d. Systemic factors in combination with medications
ANS: A
In combination with local irritating factors, such as plaque biofilm or tobacco use, systemic
factors can increase risk of severity of periodontal disease of a host, but systemic factors are
not solely responsible for periodontal disease.
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. As with dental caries, nutrition has direct involvement in periodontal disease. Suppuration, an
increased oral clearance time of food, contributes to both periodontal disease and dental
caries.
a. Both statements are true.
b. Both statements are false.
c. The first statement is true; the second is false.
d. The first statement is false; the second is true.
ANS: B
The involvement of nutrition in periodontal disease is not as clear as it is for dental caries. The
predisposing, etiologic, and contributing factors of periodontal disease are diverse; however,
the primary initiating agent is biofilm accumulation around teeth and gingiva. Suppuration is
the formation or discharge of pus.
REF: p. 382
2. Which of the following is most likely to initiate periodontal disease?
a. Nutrient deficiencies
b. Nutrient excesses
c. Nutrient imbalances
d. Plaque biofilm
e. Megadoses of supplements
ANS: D
The primary initiating agent of periodontal disease is plaque biofilm accumulation around
teeth and gingiva. Nutrient deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances do not initiate periodontal
disease. Megadoses of supplements neither prevent nor cure periodontal disease.
REF: p. 382
3. Bacterial growth and plaque formation are enhanced by a diet with frequent intake of retentive
carbohydrates. Gingivitis is an irreversible change in the interdental papillary tissues.
a. Both statements are true.
b. Both statements are false.
c. The first statement is true; the second is false.
d. The first statement is false; the second is true.
ANS: C
Retentive fermentable carbohydrates are prime culprits in the propagation of bacteria
responsible for initiation of gingivitis. Tissue changes in gingivitis are numerous, including
alterations in the interdental papillary tissues; however, gingivitis is often reversible with
appropriate oral hygiene techniques. This disease illustrates the preventive and therapeutic
role of dental hygienists in helping patients learn to prevent and treat oral diseases.
REF: p. 384
, 4. Gingivitis is usually reversible because there is no loss of connective tissue or bone support.
a. Both the statement and the reason are correct and related.
b. Both the statement and the reason are correct but are not related.
c. The statement is correct, but the reason is not correct.
d. The statement is not correct, but the reason is correct.
e. Neither the statement nor the reason is correct.
ANS: A
Gingivitis is categorized as a reversible disease because there is no loss of connective tissue or
bone support. Although pocket readings may be deeper than normal in a patient with
gingivitis, the increase in depth is due to inflammation of the gingival tissues. After removal
of local irritants (plaque and calculus) by a dental hygienist and optimal oral hygiene
procedures by the patient, gingival tissues can return to normal. If left untreated, gingivitis can
progress to periodontal disease.
REF: p. 382
5. The physical effects of food on periodontal health are varied. Each of the following accurately
describes aspects of the physical effects of food on periodontal health except one. Which one
is the exception?
a. Supragingival plaque biofilm adhesion is influenced by frequent consumption of
monosaccharides.
b. Supragingival plaque biofilm adhesion is influenced by frequent consumption of
disaccharides.
c. Local irritating factors in conjunction such as plaque biofilm influence biofilm
formation and adhesion.
d. Chewing soft, spongy foods stimulates salivary flow.
ANS: D
Chewing firm, coarse, and fibrous foods such as fruits and vegetables stimulates salivary
flow. Conversely, foods with soft and spongy texture tend to stick in pits and fissures, and
they have minimal ability to stimulate salivary flow. Supragingival plaque and biofilm
adhesion is influenced by frequent consumption of both monosaccharides and disaccharides,
particularly sucrose. Note that frequency of consumption is more of a determinant of
cariogenicity than the amount of carbohydrate consumed is.
REF: p. 383
6. Which of the following combination of situations is most likely to increase risk of severity of
periodontal disease?
a. Local irritating factors in combination with systemic factors
b. Local irritating factors alone
c. Systemic factors
d. Systemic factors in combination with medications
ANS: A
In combination with local irritating factors, such as plaque biofilm or tobacco use, systemic
factors can increase risk of severity of periodontal disease of a host, but systemic factors are
not solely responsible for periodontal disease.
