OSCE Dental Hygiene Exam 2025/2026 – Actual
Verified Questions and 100% Correct Answers |
Graded A+ by Experts
Instructions
The following are 80 multiple-choice questions designed for the OSCE Dental Hygiene
Exam 2025/2026. Each question includes four answer options, one correct answer, and a
detailed rationale based on current dental hygiene practice and OSCE assessment meth-
ods. Select the best answer for each question.
Question 1: A patient presents with generalized gingival inflammation and bleeding on
probing. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Localized aggressive periodontitis
B. Chronic periodontitis
C. Gingivitis
D. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
Correct Answer: C. Gingivitis
Rationale: Gingivitis is characterized by generalized gingival inflamma-
tion and bleeding on probing without attachment loss. Chronic periodonti-
tis involves bone loss, aggressive periodontitis is localized, and necrotizing
ulcerative gingivitis presents with pain and necrosis.
Question 2: During an OSCE station, you are asked to assess a patient’s oral hygiene.
Which index is most appropriate for evaluating plaque accumulation?
A. Gingival Bleeding Index
B. Plaque Index
C. Periodontal Screening and Recording
D. Community Periodontal Index
Correct Answer: B. Plaque Index
Rationale: The Plaque Index (Silness-Löe) quantifies plaque accumula-
tion on tooth surfaces, ideal for assessing oral hygiene. The Gingival Bleed-
ing Index measures gingival health, PSR screens for periodontal disease,
and CPI assesses community periodontal status.
Question 3: A patient with xerostomia reports increased caries risk. What is the most
effective preventive measure?
A. Increase sugar intake
B. Use fluoride toothpaste
C. Reduce brushing frequency
D. Avoid saliva substitutes
Correct Answer: B. Use fluoride toothpaste
Rationale: Fluoride toothpaste strengthens enamel and reduces caries
risk in xerostomia patients by promoting remineralization. Increased sugar
intake worsens caries, reduced brushing is detrimental, and saliva substi-
tutes may be beneficial.
Question 4: When scaling a patient’s teeth, which instrument is most appropriate for
removing heavy supragingival calculus?
1
, A. Gracey curette
B. Universal curette
C. Sickle scaler
D. Periodontal probe
Correct Answer: C. Sickle scaler
Rationale: Sickle scalers are designed for removing heavy supragingival
calculus due to their pointed tip and rigid structure. Gracey curettes are
for subgingival scaling, universal curettes for both supra- and subgingival,
and probes are for assessment.
Question 5: A patient with orthodontic braces reports difficulty cleaning interproximal
areas. What is the best recommendation?
A. Use a regular toothbrush
B. Use interdental brushes
C. Avoid flossing
D. Rinse with water only
Correct Answer: B. Use interdental brushes
Rationale: Interdental brushes effectively clean between braces and teeth,
removing plaque from hard-to-reach areas. Regular toothbrushes are less
effective interproximally, flossing is beneficial but challenging, and water
rinsing is insufficient.
Question 6: During an OSCE, you are asked to identify a radiographic finding. A pe-
riapical radiograph shows a radiopaque area at the apex of a tooth. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Periapical abscess
B. Condensing osteitis
C. Periapical cyst
D. Root resorption
Correct Answer: B. Condensing osteitis
Rationale: Condensing osteitis appears as a radiopaque area at the tooth
apex due to chronic inflammation causing bone sclerosis. Periapical ab-
scesses and cysts are radiolucent, and root resorption shows loss of tooth
structure.
Question 7: A patient with diabetes presents for periodontal treatment. What is the
most critical consideration?
A. Increased risk of infection
B. Reduced caries risk
C. Decreased bleeding tendency
D. Faster wound healing
Correct Answer: A. Increased risk of infection
Rationale: Diabetes increases infection risk due to impaired immune
response and poor wound healing, complicating periodontal treatment.
Caries risk is higher, bleeding tendency may increase, and healing is slower.
Question 8: Which topical anesthetic is most commonly used during dental hygiene
procedures?
A. Lidocaine injectable
B. Benzocaine gel
2
Verified Questions and 100% Correct Answers |
Graded A+ by Experts
Instructions
The following are 80 multiple-choice questions designed for the OSCE Dental Hygiene
Exam 2025/2026. Each question includes four answer options, one correct answer, and a
detailed rationale based on current dental hygiene practice and OSCE assessment meth-
ods. Select the best answer for each question.
Question 1: A patient presents with generalized gingival inflammation and bleeding on
probing. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Localized aggressive periodontitis
B. Chronic periodontitis
C. Gingivitis
D. Necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis
Correct Answer: C. Gingivitis
Rationale: Gingivitis is characterized by generalized gingival inflamma-
tion and bleeding on probing without attachment loss. Chronic periodonti-
tis involves bone loss, aggressive periodontitis is localized, and necrotizing
ulcerative gingivitis presents with pain and necrosis.
Question 2: During an OSCE station, you are asked to assess a patient’s oral hygiene.
Which index is most appropriate for evaluating plaque accumulation?
A. Gingival Bleeding Index
B. Plaque Index
C. Periodontal Screening and Recording
D. Community Periodontal Index
Correct Answer: B. Plaque Index
Rationale: The Plaque Index (Silness-Löe) quantifies plaque accumula-
tion on tooth surfaces, ideal for assessing oral hygiene. The Gingival Bleed-
ing Index measures gingival health, PSR screens for periodontal disease,
and CPI assesses community periodontal status.
Question 3: A patient with xerostomia reports increased caries risk. What is the most
effective preventive measure?
A. Increase sugar intake
B. Use fluoride toothpaste
C. Reduce brushing frequency
D. Avoid saliva substitutes
Correct Answer: B. Use fluoride toothpaste
Rationale: Fluoride toothpaste strengthens enamel and reduces caries
risk in xerostomia patients by promoting remineralization. Increased sugar
intake worsens caries, reduced brushing is detrimental, and saliva substi-
tutes may be beneficial.
Question 4: When scaling a patient’s teeth, which instrument is most appropriate for
removing heavy supragingival calculus?
1
, A. Gracey curette
B. Universal curette
C. Sickle scaler
D. Periodontal probe
Correct Answer: C. Sickle scaler
Rationale: Sickle scalers are designed for removing heavy supragingival
calculus due to their pointed tip and rigid structure. Gracey curettes are
for subgingival scaling, universal curettes for both supra- and subgingival,
and probes are for assessment.
Question 5: A patient with orthodontic braces reports difficulty cleaning interproximal
areas. What is the best recommendation?
A. Use a regular toothbrush
B. Use interdental brushes
C. Avoid flossing
D. Rinse with water only
Correct Answer: B. Use interdental brushes
Rationale: Interdental brushes effectively clean between braces and teeth,
removing plaque from hard-to-reach areas. Regular toothbrushes are less
effective interproximally, flossing is beneficial but challenging, and water
rinsing is insufficient.
Question 6: During an OSCE, you are asked to identify a radiographic finding. A pe-
riapical radiograph shows a radiopaque area at the apex of a tooth. What
is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Periapical abscess
B. Condensing osteitis
C. Periapical cyst
D. Root resorption
Correct Answer: B. Condensing osteitis
Rationale: Condensing osteitis appears as a radiopaque area at the tooth
apex due to chronic inflammation causing bone sclerosis. Periapical ab-
scesses and cysts are radiolucent, and root resorption shows loss of tooth
structure.
Question 7: A patient with diabetes presents for periodontal treatment. What is the
most critical consideration?
A. Increased risk of infection
B. Reduced caries risk
C. Decreased bleeding tendency
D. Faster wound healing
Correct Answer: A. Increased risk of infection
Rationale: Diabetes increases infection risk due to impaired immune
response and poor wound healing, complicating periodontal treatment.
Caries risk is higher, bleeding tendency may increase, and healing is slower.
Question 8: Which topical anesthetic is most commonly used during dental hygiene
procedures?
A. Lidocaine injectable
B. Benzocaine gel
2
