ADEX Dental Diagnostic Skills Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2027
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient presents with intermittent pain in the mandibular first molar
that is spontaneous and occasionally wakes the patient at night. Cold
testing produces pain that persists after removal of the stimulus.
Which pulpal diagnosis is most consistent with these findings?
A. Normal pulp
B. Reversible pulpitis
C. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
D. Pulpal necrosis
Persistent thermal pain and spontaneous episodes are characteristic of
significant pulpal inflammation and strongly support a diagnosis of
symptomatic irreversible pulpitis when correlated with the complete
clinical examination.
, 2. A mandibular premolar produces no response to cold testing, while the
adjacent and contralateral control teeth respond normally. The tooth
has a large periapical radiolucency. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Normal pulp
B. Reversible pulpitis
C. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
D. Pulpal necrosis
A lack of response to appropriately performed sensibility testing, especially
when control teeth respond normally and a compatible periapical lesion is
present, strongly supports pulpal necrosis.
3. A patient reports brief, sharp pain to cold that disappears immediately
after the stimulus is removed. There is no spontaneous pain and no
percussion sensitivity. Which diagnosis is most appropriate?
A. Reversible pulpitis
B. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
C. Pulpal necrosis
D. Previously treated pulp
Brief, nonlingering thermal sensitivity without spontaneous pain is
consistent with reversible pulpal inflammation when other clinical findings
do not indicate more advanced disease.
, 4. A tooth with pulpal necrosis is tender to percussion but has no swelling
or drainage. Which apical diagnosis is most appropriate?
A. Normal apical tissues
B. Symptomatic apical periodontitis
C. Chronic apical abscess
D. Condensing osteitis
Tenderness to percussion indicates inflammation of the apical periodontal
tissues. In the absence of swelling or drainage, symptomatic apical
periodontitis is the appropriate diagnosis when the findings are consistent.
5. A patient presents with a necrotic mandibular molar and localized
fluctuant swelling adjacent to the tooth. Which diagnosis should be
considered?
A. Reversible pulpitis
B. Symptomatic apical periodontitis
C. Acute apical abscess
D. Normal apical tissues
A localized fluctuant swelling associated with pulpal necrosis is
characteristic of an acute apical abscess. The clinician should assess the
extent of infection and determine appropriate definitive management.
, 6. A patient has a necrotic tooth associated with a draining sinus tract but
little or no pain. Which apical diagnosis is most consistent with this
presentation?
A. Normal apical tissues
B. Symptomatic apical periodontitis
C. Chronic apical abscess
D. Reversible pulpitis
A chronic apical abscess may produce a sinus tract that permits drainage,
often reducing pressure and pain. The associated tooth typically has pulpal
necrosis.
7. A tooth with pulpal necrosis demonstrates a diffuse, poorly defined
periapical radiopacity associated with chronic low-grade inflammation.
Which condition should be considered?
A. Acute apical abscess
B. Condensing osteitis
C. Normal apical tissues
D. Reversible pulpitis
Condensing osteitis is a localized increase in bone density associated with
chronic pulpal inflammation or necrosis. Its radiographic appearance
differs from a typical periapical radiolucency.
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2027
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A patient presents with intermittent pain in the mandibular first molar
that is spontaneous and occasionally wakes the patient at night. Cold
testing produces pain that persists after removal of the stimulus.
Which pulpal diagnosis is most consistent with these findings?
A. Normal pulp
B. Reversible pulpitis
C. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
D. Pulpal necrosis
Persistent thermal pain and spontaneous episodes are characteristic of
significant pulpal inflammation and strongly support a diagnosis of
symptomatic irreversible pulpitis when correlated with the complete
clinical examination.
, 2. A mandibular premolar produces no response to cold testing, while the
adjacent and contralateral control teeth respond normally. The tooth
has a large periapical radiolucency. Which diagnosis is most likely?
A. Normal pulp
B. Reversible pulpitis
C. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
D. Pulpal necrosis
A lack of response to appropriately performed sensibility testing, especially
when control teeth respond normally and a compatible periapical lesion is
present, strongly supports pulpal necrosis.
3. A patient reports brief, sharp pain to cold that disappears immediately
after the stimulus is removed. There is no spontaneous pain and no
percussion sensitivity. Which diagnosis is most appropriate?
A. Reversible pulpitis
B. Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
C. Pulpal necrosis
D. Previously treated pulp
Brief, nonlingering thermal sensitivity without spontaneous pain is
consistent with reversible pulpal inflammation when other clinical findings
do not indicate more advanced disease.
, 4. A tooth with pulpal necrosis is tender to percussion but has no swelling
or drainage. Which apical diagnosis is most appropriate?
A. Normal apical tissues
B. Symptomatic apical periodontitis
C. Chronic apical abscess
D. Condensing osteitis
Tenderness to percussion indicates inflammation of the apical periodontal
tissues. In the absence of swelling or drainage, symptomatic apical
periodontitis is the appropriate diagnosis when the findings are consistent.
5. A patient presents with a necrotic mandibular molar and localized
fluctuant swelling adjacent to the tooth. Which diagnosis should be
considered?
A. Reversible pulpitis
B. Symptomatic apical periodontitis
C. Acute apical abscess
D. Normal apical tissues
A localized fluctuant swelling associated with pulpal necrosis is
characteristic of an acute apical abscess. The clinician should assess the
extent of infection and determine appropriate definitive management.
, 6. A patient has a necrotic tooth associated with a draining sinus tract but
little or no pain. Which apical diagnosis is most consistent with this
presentation?
A. Normal apical tissues
B. Symptomatic apical periodontitis
C. Chronic apical abscess
D. Reversible pulpitis
A chronic apical abscess may produce a sinus tract that permits drainage,
often reducing pressure and pain. The associated tooth typically has pulpal
necrosis.
7. A tooth with pulpal necrosis demonstrates a diffuse, poorly defined
periapical radiopacity associated with chronic low-grade inflammation.
Which condition should be considered?
A. Acute apical abscess
B. Condensing osteitis
C. Normal apical tissues
D. Reversible pulpitis
Condensing osteitis is a localized increase in bone density associated with
chronic pulpal inflammation or necrosis. Its radiographic appearance
differs from a typical periapical radiolucency.
