Question 1

Which one of the following is not considered a variant of normal?

Accepted Answer

Fordyce granules, leukoedema, and linea alba are all considered variants of normal in the oral cavity. Fordyce granules are small yellowish-white bumps commonly seen on the lips and inside the cheeks. Leukoedema is a benign condition that appears as a whitish-gray film on the mucosa, usually on the buccal mucosa. Linea alba is a white line that appears on the buccal mucosa of individuals who clench or grind their teeth. Pyogenic granuloma, on the other hand, is a type of soft tissue growth that is considered an abnormality and may require treatment.

Question 2

Which papillae are elongated in the condition called black hairy tongue?

Accepted Answer

In black hairy tongue, the filiform papillae become elongated and discolored, giving the tongue a black, hairy appearance.

Question 3

Which one of the following is diagnosed through clinical appearance?

Accepted Answer

Fordyce granules are diagnosed through their clinical appearance as small, raised, yellowish-white papules or spots on the vermillion border of the lips or buccal mucosa.

Question 4

Radiographic features, including the cotton-wool effect and hypercementosis, are especially helpful in the diagnosis of:

Accepted Answer

Paget disease is characterized by abnormal bone remodeling, resulting in thickened and weakened bones. Radiographic features, such as the cotton-wool effect (areas of radiopacity surrounded by a radiolucent halo) and hypercementosis (excessive cementum on the roots of teeth), are commonly seen in patients with Paget disease. Dentinogenesis imperfecta is a condition that affects tooth development, but it is not associated with these radiographic findings. Anemia and diabetes also do not present with characteristic radiographic features like those seen in Paget disease.

Question 5

Retrocuspid papillae are located on the:

Accepted Answer

Retrocuspid papillae are small, nodular, protuberances located on the gingival margin of the lingual aspect of mandibular cuspids. They are a normal anatomical feature and can vary in size and number.

Question 6

Which one of the following conditions would most likely respond to therapeutic diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Angular cheilitis is a condition that can have various causes and is often associated with local irritation, nutritional deficiencies, or fungal or bacterial infections. Therapeutic diagnosis involves treating the condition with a specific therapy, such as antifungal or antibacterial creams, to determine whether the symptoms improve, confirming the diagnosis.

Question 7

This bony hard radiopaque structure in the midline of the hard palate is genetic in origin and inherited in an autosomal dominant manner. The diagnosis is made through clinical appearance.  You suspect a:

Accepted Answer

The description of a bony hard radiopaque structure in the midline of the hard palate that is genetic and inherited in an autosomal dominant manner is consistent with a torus palatinus. Palatal cysts and ranulas are soft tissue lesions and would not present as radiopaque structures. Mixed tumors are also soft tissue lesions and would present as a mass rather than a bony hard protrusion.

Question 8

Which one of the following is not diagnosed through clinical appearance?

Accepted Answer

Mandibular tori, Fordyce granules, and black hairy tongue can all be diagnosed through clinical appearance. However, compound odontoma is a type of dental tumor that requires radiographic imaging for diagnosis.

Question 9

Another name for geographic tongue is:

Accepted Answer

Benign migratory glossitis is another name for geographic tongue. Research suggests that median rhomboid glossitis is associated with a chronic fungal infection from Candida albicans. Sometimes the condition resolves with antifungal therapy. Fissured tongue is seen in 5% of the population. It is a variant of normal. Genetic factors are typically associated with the condition. Black hairy tongue is caused by a reaction to chemicals, tobacco, hydrogen peroxide, or antacids. The filiform papillae on the dorsal tongue become elongated and are dark brown to black.

Question 10

Which one of the following is considered a genetic/inherited disorder?

Accepted Answer

Amelogenesis imperfecta is a genetic disorder that affects the development of tooth enamel, resulting in teeth that are discolored, malformed, and prone to rapid wear and breakdown. The other choices are not considered genetic disorders.

Question 11

The gingival enlargement in this patient was caused by a calcium channel blocker.  Which one of the following would likely be the cause?

Accepted Answer

Calcium channel blockers, such as nifedipine, are known to cause gingival enlargement as a side effect. Dilantin (A) is an anticonvulsant that is also associated with gingival enlargement, but through a different mechanism. Quinidine (C) is an antiarrhythmic drug that does not cause gingival enlargement. Clozapine (D) is an antipsychotic drug that is not associated with gingival enlargement.

Question 12

A lesion with a sessile base is described as:

Accepted Answer

Sessile describes the base of a lesion that is flat and broad. An ulcer is a break in the surface epithelium. A stemlike lesion is referred to as pedunculated. A pedunculated lesion is stemlike or stalk-based (similar to a mushroom).

Question 13

In internal resorption, the radiolucency seen radiographically is usually:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In internal resorption, the radiolucency seen radiographically...

Question 14

A Stafne bone cyst contains:

Accepted Answer

Stafne bone cyst is a developmental invagination in the lingual aspect of the mandible that is filled with salivary gland tissue. An empty void describes the contents of a traumatic bone cyst. A Stafne bone cyst has no inflammatory response. It is developmental and requires no treatment. A Stafne bone cyst is not a true cyst and does not have an epithelial lining. It contains normal salivary gland tissue.

Question 15

A lesion with a stemlike base is described as:

Accepted Answer

A lesion with a stem-like base is called pedunculated. "Sessile" describes a lesion without a stem-like base, "macular" describes a flat lesion, and "lobulated" describes a lesion with separate lobes or parts.

Question 16

Which of the following would be described as a segment that is part of the whole?

Accepted Answer

A lobule is a segment or a subdivision of an organ.

Question 17

Ectopic geographic tongue can be found:

Accepted Answer

Ectopic geographic tongue can be found on mucosal surfaces other than the tongue, such as the buccal mucosa or labial mucosa. It is not typically found on the dorsal tongue or within bone, and while it can be found on the lateral border of the tongue, this is not the only location where it can occur.

Question 18

When antifungal therapy is used to treat angular cheilitis, which diagnostic process is being applied?

Accepted Answer

When antifungal therapy is used to treat angular cheilitis, it is classified as a therapeutic approach rather than a diagnostic process. The use of antifungal therapy aims to resolve the underlying fungal infection that causes angular cheilitis. Microscopic and laboratory diagnostic processes may be used initially to identify the presence of a fungal infection, and surgical procedures may be necessary if the condition is severe or chronic, but antifungal therapy is primarily therapeutic.

Question 19

The gray-white opalescent film seen on the buccal mucosa of 85% of black adults is a variant of normal that requires no treatment and is called:

Accepted Answer

The gray-white opalescent film seen on the buccal mucosa of 85% of black adults is known as leukoedema, which is a variant of normal that requires no treatment. Option A, linea alba, refers to a white ridge or line on the inside of the cheeks, which is also a normal variant. Option C, leukoplakia, is a white patch or plaque on the oral mucosa that cannot be wiped off and can be a precursor of cancer. Option D, white sponge nevus, is a rare genetic disorder that presents as white, thickened, sponge-like lesions on the oral mucosa.

Question 20

A small, circumscribed lesion, usually less than 1 cm in diameter, that is elevated or protrudes above the surface of normal surrounding tissue is a:

Accepted Answer

A papule is a small, elevated lesion that is less than 1 cm in diameter. A macule is a flat lesion without elevation, a vesicle is a small blister that contains fluid, and a bulla is a larger blister that contains fluid.

Quiz 1: Introduction to Preliminary Diagnosis of Oral Lesions