Deck 13: Dental Caries

Question 1

The study of cariology includes the causes of dental caries,process of caries development,and:

A)fabrication of dentures and removable partial dentures.
B)restoration of dental caries with direct materials such as silver amalgam or composite resin.
C)restoration of dental caries with indirect materials such as porcelain or gold.
D)science and practice of caries management and prevention.

Answer 1

science and practice of caries management and prevention.

Question 2

Which of the following types of bacteria are associated with a high sugar intake?

A)Porphyromonas gingivalis
B)Bacteroides gingivalis
C)Lactobacilli
D)Streptococcus mutans

Answer 2

Lactobacilli

Question 3

Advances in which of the following areas will provide dental professionals with a rapid method of assessing a patient's risk for dental caries?

A)Esthetic restorative materials
B)Dental explorer metallurgy
C)Molecular biology
D)Cavity preparation design

Answer 3

Molecular biology

Question 4

Which of the following is true of dental caries?

A)It is a communicable bacterial infection.
B)It is a disease that affects older adults, but is rare in children.
C)It has been largely eliminated with the use of fluoride.
D)The emphasis in fighting caries is shifting toward restorations.

Question 5

Which of the following group(s)of bacteria are responsible for dental caries?

A)Staphylococci
B)Mutans streptococci and lactobacilli
C)Bacilli
D)Spirochetes

Question 6

Which of the following is one of the causes of rampant caries?

A)Xerostomia
B)Not flossing
C)Open tooth contacts
D)Acid reflux

Question 7

Which of the following types of caries is associated with exposed root surfaces?

A)Incipient lesions
B)Rampant caries
C)Root caries
D)Secondary caries

Question 8

Incipient caries is the ______ stage of development of a carious lesion.

A)first
B)second
C)frank
D)overt

Question 9

Which of the following are examples of caries risk assessment tests?

A)Production of stomach acid and GERD
B)Saliva flow rate and bacterial testing
C)Saliva pH and buffering capacity
D)Maternal DNA

Question 10

Which is not true about the process of demineralization and remineralization?

A)Demineralization and remineralization may occur without loss of tooth structure.
B)Demineralization and remineralization always causes loss of tooth structure.
C)Caries is an ongoing process characterized by alternating periods of demineralization and remineralization.
D)Caries develops if more demineralization than remineralization occurs.

Question 11

The _______ protection of saliva is dependent on calcium,phosphate,and fluoride.

A)physical
B)chemical
C)antibacterial
D)buffering

Question 12

Which is not true of dental plaque?

A)It is a colorless, sticky coating on the teeth.
B)It contains an adhesive substance called the pellicle.
C)It contains food debris and does not contain bacteria.
D)It contains 99% more oral bacteria than the same amount of saliva.

Question 13

A laser caries detector:

A)works on the principle that a carious tooth will show less fluorescence and a clean, healthy tooth will show more fluorescence.
B)is effective for adult teeth but not for primary teeth.
C)can be used to diagnose interproximal caries.
D)cannot be used to detect caries under an amalgam restoration.

Question 14

The three factors required for the development of caries are a susceptible tooth,a diet rich in fermentable carbohydrates,and:

A)specific bacteria.
B)any bacteria.
C)fats.
D)acidic food.

Question 15

Which of the following can slow or prevent the caries process?

A)Eating more carbohydrates
B)Taking antibiotics
C)Increasing salivary flow
D)Using a saltwater rinse

Question 16

Which of the following is not true regarding the demineralization of the tooth structure?

A)Demineralization is caused by the bacterial acid released after eating a fermentable carbohydrate.
B)Demineralization is increased as fermentable carbohydrates are eaten more frequently.
C)Demineralization is repaired by cooked starch, such as bread, potatoes, rice, and pasta.
D)Demineralization is increased as the teeth are exposed to fermentable carbohydrates more frequently.

Question 17

Bacteria in dental plaque feed on fermentable carbohydrates,including all but which of the following?

A)Sugars
B)Cooked starch
C)Protein and fats
D)Fruit sugar

Question 18

Which of the following is the most common source of transmission of disease-causing mutans streptococci (MS)to infants?

A)Food
B)Clothing
C)Furniture
D)Mothers

Question 19

_______ occurs when calcium and phosphate dissolve from hydroxyapatite crystals in the enamel.

A)Decay
B)Demineralization
C)Remineralization
D)Calcium depletion

Question 20

Which of the following types of caries occurs primary on occlusal surfaces?

A)Smooth surface
B)Pit and fissure
C)Recurrent
D)Root surface

Question 21

A DIAGNOdent reading of 10 to 15 indicates which actions?

A)No action
B)Preventive therapy
C)Sealants
D)Preparation

Question 22

A clean,healthy tooth will have little or no fluorescence when a laser caries detector is used,resulting in ______ readings.

A)very low
B)moderately low
C)moderately high
D)very high

Question 23

Which of the following is an infectious disease in which children live in constant pain from decayed primary teeth and swollen gums?

A)Trench mouth
B)Early childhood caries
C)Rampant caries
D)Gingivitis

Question 24

Which is true regarding caries detection?

A)Research shows that a sharp explorer stick is the most effective technique for diagnosing occlusal decay.
B)Radiographs are effective for diagnosing occlusal and proximal caries.
C)A dark discoloration is always caries.
D)Several types of devices have been developed that can provide a higher level of discrimination than an explorer in the diagnosis of dental caries.

Question 25

Which is not true of laser caries detector readings?

A)A false-positive is possible if plaque is present in fissures.
B)Carious tooth structure reveals higher degrees of fluorescence.
C)The laser caries detector is not a stand-alone diagnostic tool.
D)The laser caries detector is useful for locating subgingival caries.

Question 26

Chewing one stick of xylitol gum three times a day will help to do all except:

A)increase salivary flow.
B)assist in the remineralization of tooth surfaces.
C)replace interproximal plaque disruption with floss.
D)neutralize mouth acids.

Question 27

Which of the following is the most prevalent disease of childhood?

A)Insulin dependent diabetes
B)Early childhood caries
C)Respiratory infection
D)Tonsillitis

Question 28

New restorative materials help reduce recurrent decay by eliminating the tiny space between the tooth and the restorative material.

Question 29

Which of the following is true concerning early childhood caries (ECC)?

A)It is not dependent on socioeconomic status.
B)It is not associated with any particular ethic group.
C)It is not common among children living in an area lacking water fluoridation.
D)It is a transmissible disease.

Question 30

What is the primary reason why root caries is becoming more prevalent?

A)There is a greater consumption of fermentable carbohydrates.
B)People are keeping their teeth longer.
C)There are better diagnostic methods.
D)Fluoridated water creates more acid oral conditions.