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HESI DENTAL HYGIENE EXAM 2 LATEST
VERSIONS 2026/DENTAL HYGIENE HESI EXAM
200+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A dental hygiene student is reviewing a patient's medical and dental
history before beginning an appointment and notices that the patient
reports frequent bleeding from the gingiva during brushing, occasional
spontaneous gingival bleeding, generalized redness and edema of the
marginal tissues, and inconsistent daily interdental cleaning. During the
periodontal assessment, the student observes plaque accumulation along
the gingival margins and bleeding during periodontal probing. Which
condition is most consistent with these clinical findings?
A. Healthy periodontium
B. Plaque-induced gingivitis
C. Necrotizing periodontitis
D. Chronic apical abscess Answer: B
2. During a comprehensive periodontal assessment, a dental hygienist
carefully evaluates probing depths, clinical attachment levels, gingival
recession, bleeding on probing, and the presence of plaque and calculus.
The clinician notices that several posterior teeth have periodontal
pockets that extend apically but there is no evidence of attachment loss
associated with the pocket depths. Which term best describes this type of
periodontal pocket? A. True periodontal pocket
B. False periodontal pocket
C. Osseous pocket
D. Infrabony pocket Answer: B
3. A patient presents for periodontal maintenance and reports that
several areas of the mouth bleed whenever the patient uses dental floss.
,2
The patient states that the bleeding has been present for several months
and therefore believes flossing should be discontinued. The clinician
observes inflammation concentrated around areas where plaque remains
undisturbed. What is the most appropriate recommendation concerning
interdental cleaning?
A. Stop flossing until all bleeding disappears
B. Continue appropriate interdental cleaning consistently
C. Replace flossing with mouthwash only
D. Avoid cleaning the inflamed areas Answer: B
4. During an oral examination, a dental hygienist notices that the
gingival tissues surrounding several teeth appear enlarged, red, and
edematous, with a loss of the normal stippled appearance. The patient
has abundant supragingival plaque and reports inadequate oral hygiene
practices but does not have radiographic evidence of alveolar bone loss.
Which finding most strongly supports a diagnosis of plaque-induced
gingivitis?
A. Loss of periodontal attachment
B. Alveolar bone destruction
C. Gingival inflammation without attachment loss
D. Furcation involvement Answer: C
5. A patient undergoing periodontal assessment has a probing depth of 6
mm on the facial surface of a mandibular molar. The gingival margin is
located 2 mm apical to the cemento-enamel junction because of gingival
recession. The hygienist needs to determine the clinical attachment level
rather than simply documenting the probing depth. What clinical
attachment level should be recorded for this site?
A. 4 mm
B. 6 mm
C. 8 mm
D. 10 mm
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Answer: C
6. A patient with generalized periodontal inflammation asks why the
dental hygienist spends considerable time measuring periodontal probing
depths and recording bleeding sites even though the patient does not
experience significant pain. The hygienist explains that periodontal
diseases can progress with relatively few symptoms while attachment
and supporting bone are being lost. Which measurement is most directly
associated with evaluating periodontal tissue destruction?
A. Tooth shade
B. Clinical attachment level
C. Crown width
D. Occlusal contact Answer: B
7. During periodontal charting, the dental hygienist identifies a tooth
with a deep periodontal pocket extending from the gingival margin
toward the root surface. Radiographic evaluation demonstrates vertical
bone loss adjacent to the affected tooth. Which type of periodontal
defect is most consistent with this presentation?
A. Suprabony defect
B. Infrabony defect
C. Gingival pseudopocket
D. Developmental groove Answer: B
8. A patient has generalized bleeding on probing, erythematous gingival
tissues, heavy plaque deposits, and localized calculus. The patient
reports that the bleeding began after oral hygiene became less consistent.
There is no radiographic evidence of bone loss and no clinical evidence
of attachment loss. Which factor is most directly responsible for
initiating the inflammatory response observed in this patient?
A. Dental plaque biofilm
B. Occlusal anatomy alone
, 4
C. Tooth color
D. Salivary calcium concentration alone
Answer: A
9. A dental hygienist is explaining the relationship between dental
plaque and gingival inflammation to a patient who believes that calculus
itself is the primary cause of periodontal disease. The clinician explains
that calculus can contribute to plaque retention and make oral hygiene
more difficult but that the microbial biofilm is the primary initiating
factor in plaque-induced gingival inflammation. Which statement is
most accurate?
A. Calculus independently causes all periodontal inflammation
B. Plaque biofilm is the primary initiating etiologic factor
C. Saliva is the primary cause of gingivitis
D. Occlusion is the primary cause of gingivitis Answer: B
10. During periodontal instrumentation, a dental hygienist encounters a
tenacious deposit located below the gingival margin on the proximal
surface of a posterior tooth. The deposit is dark, hard, and firmly
attached to the root surface, and the patient has a history of periodontal
disease. Which characteristic most accurately describes this type of
calculus?
A. Soft, white, supragingival deposit
B. Subgingival calculus with a dark appearance
C. Acquired pellicle
D. Food debris Answer: B
11. A patient has significant accumulation of supragingival calculus
around the mandibular anterior teeth and asks why these deposits occur
repeatedly despite brushing. The dental hygienist explains that certain
areas commonly accumulate calculus because of their proximity to
major salivary gland ducts and exposure to saliva rich in minerals.
HESI DENTAL HYGIENE EXAM 2 LATEST
VERSIONS 2026/DENTAL HYGIENE HESI EXAM
200+ QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS|ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A dental hygiene student is reviewing a patient's medical and dental
history before beginning an appointment and notices that the patient
reports frequent bleeding from the gingiva during brushing, occasional
spontaneous gingival bleeding, generalized redness and edema of the
marginal tissues, and inconsistent daily interdental cleaning. During the
periodontal assessment, the student observes plaque accumulation along
the gingival margins and bleeding during periodontal probing. Which
condition is most consistent with these clinical findings?
A. Healthy periodontium
B. Plaque-induced gingivitis
C. Necrotizing periodontitis
D. Chronic apical abscess Answer: B
2. During a comprehensive periodontal assessment, a dental hygienist
carefully evaluates probing depths, clinical attachment levels, gingival
recession, bleeding on probing, and the presence of plaque and calculus.
The clinician notices that several posterior teeth have periodontal
pockets that extend apically but there is no evidence of attachment loss
associated with the pocket depths. Which term best describes this type of
periodontal pocket? A. True periodontal pocket
B. False periodontal pocket
C. Osseous pocket
D. Infrabony pocket Answer: B
3. A patient presents for periodontal maintenance and reports that
several areas of the mouth bleed whenever the patient uses dental floss.
,2
The patient states that the bleeding has been present for several months
and therefore believes flossing should be discontinued. The clinician
observes inflammation concentrated around areas where plaque remains
undisturbed. What is the most appropriate recommendation concerning
interdental cleaning?
A. Stop flossing until all bleeding disappears
B. Continue appropriate interdental cleaning consistently
C. Replace flossing with mouthwash only
D. Avoid cleaning the inflamed areas Answer: B
4. During an oral examination, a dental hygienist notices that the
gingival tissues surrounding several teeth appear enlarged, red, and
edematous, with a loss of the normal stippled appearance. The patient
has abundant supragingival plaque and reports inadequate oral hygiene
practices but does not have radiographic evidence of alveolar bone loss.
Which finding most strongly supports a diagnosis of plaque-induced
gingivitis?
A. Loss of periodontal attachment
B. Alveolar bone destruction
C. Gingival inflammation without attachment loss
D. Furcation involvement Answer: C
5. A patient undergoing periodontal assessment has a probing depth of 6
mm on the facial surface of a mandibular molar. The gingival margin is
located 2 mm apical to the cemento-enamel junction because of gingival
recession. The hygienist needs to determine the clinical attachment level
rather than simply documenting the probing depth. What clinical
attachment level should be recorded for this site?
A. 4 mm
B. 6 mm
C. 8 mm
D. 10 mm
,3
Answer: C
6. A patient with generalized periodontal inflammation asks why the
dental hygienist spends considerable time measuring periodontal probing
depths and recording bleeding sites even though the patient does not
experience significant pain. The hygienist explains that periodontal
diseases can progress with relatively few symptoms while attachment
and supporting bone are being lost. Which measurement is most directly
associated with evaluating periodontal tissue destruction?
A. Tooth shade
B. Clinical attachment level
C. Crown width
D. Occlusal contact Answer: B
7. During periodontal charting, the dental hygienist identifies a tooth
with a deep periodontal pocket extending from the gingival margin
toward the root surface. Radiographic evaluation demonstrates vertical
bone loss adjacent to the affected tooth. Which type of periodontal
defect is most consistent with this presentation?
A. Suprabony defect
B. Infrabony defect
C. Gingival pseudopocket
D. Developmental groove Answer: B
8. A patient has generalized bleeding on probing, erythematous gingival
tissues, heavy plaque deposits, and localized calculus. The patient
reports that the bleeding began after oral hygiene became less consistent.
There is no radiographic evidence of bone loss and no clinical evidence
of attachment loss. Which factor is most directly responsible for
initiating the inflammatory response observed in this patient?
A. Dental plaque biofilm
B. Occlusal anatomy alone
, 4
C. Tooth color
D. Salivary calcium concentration alone
Answer: A
9. A dental hygienist is explaining the relationship between dental
plaque and gingival inflammation to a patient who believes that calculus
itself is the primary cause of periodontal disease. The clinician explains
that calculus can contribute to plaque retention and make oral hygiene
more difficult but that the microbial biofilm is the primary initiating
factor in plaque-induced gingival inflammation. Which statement is
most accurate?
A. Calculus independently causes all periodontal inflammation
B. Plaque biofilm is the primary initiating etiologic factor
C. Saliva is the primary cause of gingivitis
D. Occlusion is the primary cause of gingivitis Answer: B
10. During periodontal instrumentation, a dental hygienist encounters a
tenacious deposit located below the gingival margin on the proximal
surface of a posterior tooth. The deposit is dark, hard, and firmly
attached to the root surface, and the patient has a history of periodontal
disease. Which characteristic most accurately describes this type of
calculus?
A. Soft, white, supragingival deposit
B. Subgingival calculus with a dark appearance
C. Acquired pellicle
D. Food debris Answer: B
11. A patient has significant accumulation of supragingival calculus
around the mandibular anterior teeth and asks why these deposits occur
repeatedly despite brushing. The dental hygienist explains that certain
areas commonly accumulate calculus because of their proximity to
major salivary gland ducts and exposure to saliva rich in minerals.
