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HESI DENTAL HYGIENE EXIT
EXAMINATION
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS| CURRENT
TESTING| HESI DENTAL HYGIENE EXIT
EXAMINATION – PRACTICE
D
O
QUESTIONS
N
O
T
Section 1: Head, Neck, and Oral Anatomy (Questions 1–15)
C
O
1. Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for sensation to the face and
motor function for mastication?
PY
A) Facial nerve (CN VII)
B) Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
C) Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Answer: C. Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Explanation: The trigeminal nerve (CN V) provides sensory innervation to the
face and motor fibers to the muscles of mastication (temporalis, masseter,
medial and lateral pterygoids). CN VII is for facial expression and taste; CN
XII for tongue movement; CN IX for pharynx and taste.
2. The major blood supply to the teeth and supporting structures of the
maxilla comes from the:
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A) Facial artery
B) Lingual artery
C) Maxillary artery
D) Superficial temporal artery
Answer: C. Maxillary artery
Explanation: The maxillary artery, a terminal branch of the external carotid
artery, gives rise to the superior alveolar arteries that supply the maxillary
teeth and surrounding bone. The facial artery supplies the face; the lingual
artery supplies the tongue; the superficial temporal artery supplies the scalp
and parotid region.
3. The opening of the parotid duct (Stensen’s duct) is located on the:
D
A) Floor of the mouth near the lingual frenum
O
B) Buccal mucosa opposite the maxillary second molar
N
C) Palate near the midline
O
D) Retromolar pad area
T
Answer: B. Buccal mucosa opposite the maxillary second molar
C
Explanation: Stensen’s duct opens on a small papilla on the buccal mucosa
O
across from the maxillary second molar. The submandibular and sublingual
ducts open in the floor of the mouth.
PY
4. Which tooth has the longest root and is most likely to have two canals?
A) Maxillary first premolar
B) Mandibular canine
C) Mandibular first molar
D) Maxillary central incisor
Answer: B. Mandibular canine
Explanation: The mandibular canine often has the longest root of any tooth. It
can have two canals in a significant percentage of cases (especially in older
literature). Mandibular first molars have two roots but often three canals.
Maxillary central incisors have a single root and canal.
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5. The pterygomandibular raphe serves as an attachment for which muscles?
A) Masseter and temporalis
B) Superior pharyngeal constrictor and buccinator
C) Geniohyoid and mylohyoid
D) Digastric and stylohyoid
Answer: B. Superior pharyngeal constrictor and buccinator Explanation: The
pterygomandibular raphe is a tendinous band that provides attachment for
the buccinator muscle anteriorly and the superior pharyngeal constrictor
muscle posteriorly. It is an important landmark for administering the inferior
alveolar nerve block.
6. Which of the following surfaces of a posterior tooth is closest to the cheek?
D
A) Mesial
O
B) Distal
N
C) Lingual D) Buccal
O
Answer: D. Buccal
T
Explanation: The buccal surface faces the cheek (bucca = cheek). The lingual
C
surface faces the tongue; mesial and distal are proximal surfaces adjacent to
other teeth.
O
PY
7. The term “diastema” refers to:
A) An extra tooth
B) A space between two adjacent teeth
C) A deep groove on a tooth surface
D) An impacted tooth
Answer: B. A space between two adjacent teeth
Explanation: Diastema is a gap or space between two teeth, commonly seen
between maxillary central incisors. It may be physiologic or pathologic.
8. The mandibular foramen is an important landmark for which
injection? A) Maxillary nerve block
B) Infraorbital nerve block
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C) Inferior alveolar nerve block
D) Greater palatine nerve block
Answer: C. Inferior alveolar nerve block
Explanation: The inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandibular foramen to
supply the mandibular teeth. Anesthetic deposited near this foramen
anesthetizes the nerve, providing pulpal anesthesia to the ipsilateral
mandibular teeth, bone, and soft tissue anterior to the mental foramen.
9. The incisive foramen is located in which part of the oral cavity?
A) Anterior midline of the hard palate
B) Posterior hard palate
D
C) Floor of the mouth
O
D) Buccal mucosa
Answer: A. Anterior midline of the hard palate
N
Explanation: The incisive foramen is located in the midline of the hard palate
O
just behind the maxillary central incisors. It transmits the nasopalatine nerve
T
and blood vessels.
C
10. Which of the following papillae on the tongue contain taste buds?
O
A) Filiform papillae
PY
B) Fungiform papillae
C) Foliate papillae
D) Both B and C
Answer: D. Both B and C
Explanation: Fungiform (mushroom-shaped) papillae and foliate (leaf-shaped)
papillae contain taste buds. Filiform papillae are for mechanical sensation and
do not contain taste buds; they give the tongue its rough texture.
11. The “linea alba” is a normal finding seen on the:
A) Ventral tongue
B) Buccal mucosa along the occlusal plane
C) Hard palate
HESI DENTAL HYGIENE EXIT
EXAMINATION
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
WITH DETAILED
EXPLANATIONS| CURRENT
TESTING| HESI DENTAL HYGIENE EXIT
EXAMINATION – PRACTICE
D
O
QUESTIONS
N
O
T
Section 1: Head, Neck, and Oral Anatomy (Questions 1–15)
C
O
1. Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for sensation to the face and
motor function for mastication?
PY
A) Facial nerve (CN VII)
B) Hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
C) Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
D) Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
Answer: C. Trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Explanation: The trigeminal nerve (CN V) provides sensory innervation to the
face and motor fibers to the muscles of mastication (temporalis, masseter,
medial and lateral pterygoids). CN VII is for facial expression and taste; CN
XII for tongue movement; CN IX for pharynx and taste.
2. The major blood supply to the teeth and supporting structures of the
maxilla comes from the:
, Page 2 of 44
A) Facial artery
B) Lingual artery
C) Maxillary artery
D) Superficial temporal artery
Answer: C. Maxillary artery
Explanation: The maxillary artery, a terminal branch of the external carotid
artery, gives rise to the superior alveolar arteries that supply the maxillary
teeth and surrounding bone. The facial artery supplies the face; the lingual
artery supplies the tongue; the superficial temporal artery supplies the scalp
and parotid region.
3. The opening of the parotid duct (Stensen’s duct) is located on the:
D
A) Floor of the mouth near the lingual frenum
O
B) Buccal mucosa opposite the maxillary second molar
N
C) Palate near the midline
O
D) Retromolar pad area
T
Answer: B. Buccal mucosa opposite the maxillary second molar
C
Explanation: Stensen’s duct opens on a small papilla on the buccal mucosa
O
across from the maxillary second molar. The submandibular and sublingual
ducts open in the floor of the mouth.
PY
4. Which tooth has the longest root and is most likely to have two canals?
A) Maxillary first premolar
B) Mandibular canine
C) Mandibular first molar
D) Maxillary central incisor
Answer: B. Mandibular canine
Explanation: The mandibular canine often has the longest root of any tooth. It
can have two canals in a significant percentage of cases (especially in older
literature). Mandibular first molars have two roots but often three canals.
Maxillary central incisors have a single root and canal.
, Page 3 of 44
5. The pterygomandibular raphe serves as an attachment for which muscles?
A) Masseter and temporalis
B) Superior pharyngeal constrictor and buccinator
C) Geniohyoid and mylohyoid
D) Digastric and stylohyoid
Answer: B. Superior pharyngeal constrictor and buccinator Explanation: The
pterygomandibular raphe is a tendinous band that provides attachment for
the buccinator muscle anteriorly and the superior pharyngeal constrictor
muscle posteriorly. It is an important landmark for administering the inferior
alveolar nerve block.
6. Which of the following surfaces of a posterior tooth is closest to the cheek?
D
A) Mesial
O
B) Distal
N
C) Lingual D) Buccal
O
Answer: D. Buccal
T
Explanation: The buccal surface faces the cheek (bucca = cheek). The lingual
C
surface faces the tongue; mesial and distal are proximal surfaces adjacent to
other teeth.
O
PY
7. The term “diastema” refers to:
A) An extra tooth
B) A space between two adjacent teeth
C) A deep groove on a tooth surface
D) An impacted tooth
Answer: B. A space between two adjacent teeth
Explanation: Diastema is a gap or space between two teeth, commonly seen
between maxillary central incisors. It may be physiologic or pathologic.
8. The mandibular foramen is an important landmark for which
injection? A) Maxillary nerve block
B) Infraorbital nerve block
, Page 4 of 44
C) Inferior alveolar nerve block
D) Greater palatine nerve block
Answer: C. Inferior alveolar nerve block
Explanation: The inferior alveolar nerve enters the mandibular foramen to
supply the mandibular teeth. Anesthetic deposited near this foramen
anesthetizes the nerve, providing pulpal anesthesia to the ipsilateral
mandibular teeth, bone, and soft tissue anterior to the mental foramen.
9. The incisive foramen is located in which part of the oral cavity?
A) Anterior midline of the hard palate
B) Posterior hard palate
D
C) Floor of the mouth
O
D) Buccal mucosa
Answer: A. Anterior midline of the hard palate
N
Explanation: The incisive foramen is located in the midline of the hard palate
O
just behind the maxillary central incisors. It transmits the nasopalatine nerve
T
and blood vessels.
C
10. Which of the following papillae on the tongue contain taste buds?
O
A) Filiform papillae
PY
B) Fungiform papillae
C) Foliate papillae
D) Both B and C
Answer: D. Both B and C
Explanation: Fungiform (mushroom-shaped) papillae and foliate (leaf-shaped)
papillae contain taste buds. Filiform papillae are for mechanical sensation and
do not contain taste buds; they give the tongue its rough texture.
11. The “linea alba” is a normal finding seen on the:
A) Ventral tongue
B) Buccal mucosa along the occlusal plane
C) Hard palate
