,Chapter 01: The Dental Hygiene Profession
ff ff ff ff ff
MULTIPLE CHOICE ff
1. What is the discipline of dental hygiene?
ff ff ff ff ff ff
a. The study of teeth and their supporting structures
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
b. Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
twice a day, morning and night
ff ff ff ff ff ff
c. The study of preventive oral healthcare, including the management of behavior to
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
prevent oral disease and promote health
ff ff ff ff ff ff
d. The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to clients
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
ANS: f f C
The study of teeth and their supporting structures. This answer is wrong because the discipline
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
of dental hygiene covers much more information than the study of teeth and supporting
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
structures. Dental hygiene focuses on the preventive measures that the teeth and supporting
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
structures must receive, in addition to other oral healthcare steps that must be taken to
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
promote one’s health.
f f ff ff
Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse twice a day,
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
morning and night. This answer is wrong because this statement describes only one procedure
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
within the discipline of dental hygiene. Dental hygiene is a much larger and general field of
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
study than this simple preventive action.
ff ff ff ff ff ff
The study of preventive oral healthcare including the management of behavior to prevent oral
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
disease and promote health. This answer is correct because this is the direct definition of
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
dental hygiene. The definition can be broken down into smaller, specified divisions to further
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
develop the discipline of dental hygiene.
ff ff ff ff ff ff
The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to clients. This answer is wrong
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
because dental hygienists play many interrelated roles, such as clinician, educator,
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
administrator or manager, advocate, and researcher. Although each of these roles is created to
ff ff ff ff ff ff f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
assist in dental hygiene, the discipline is not centered on the actions and procedures of the
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
dental hygienist.
ff ff
REF: f f f f What is Dental Hygiene? | 1 ff ff ff ff ff
2. Who is the professional dental hygienist?
ff ff ff ff ff
a. A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from a
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental hygiene
ff ff ff f ff ff ff ff ff
program ff
b. A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program, such as
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
the Alabama Dental Hygienists Program
ff ff ff ff ff
c. A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation,
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff f
, accredited, dental school program
ff ff ff ff
d. A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation,
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff f
accredited, dental assisting program
ff ff ff ff
ANS: f f A
, A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from a Commission on
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental hygiene program. This answer is correct
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
because to be eligible as a professional dental hygienist, the person must have graduated from
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
an accredited dental hygiene program.
ff ff ff ff ff
A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program, such as the
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
Alabama Dental Hygienists Program. This answer is wrong because a dental hygienist cannot
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
learn on the job to become a professional. Rather, they must pass written examinations and
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program.
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, dental
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff f ff ff
school program. This answer is wrong because a dentist has a higher degree than a dental
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
hygienist and therefore, generally, works above a dental hygienist. It is not necessary for a
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
dental hygienist to receive an education from a dental school.
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, dental
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff f ff ff
assisting program. This answer is wrong because a person graduating from an accredited
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
dental assisting program would only be licensed as a dental assistant.
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
REF: f f f f Who Is the Dental Hygienist? | 1 ff ff ff ff ff ff
3. All of these services are provided by the majority of dental hygienists in the clinical setting
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
except one. Which one is the exception?
ff ff ff ff ff ff
a. Perform periodontal maintenance care. ff ff ff
b. Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
c. Provide fluoride varnish treatment. ff ff ff
d. Place and remove restorations. ff ff ff
ANS: f f D
Perform periodontal maintenance care. This is a service provided in the clinical setting. The
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related to
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
periodontal disease. For example: subgingival sustained-release delivery systems containing
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
chlorhexidine.
ff
Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. This is a service provided in
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
the clinical setting. The main goal of a dental hygienist is to prevent oral disease and promote
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
health. Therefore, if the state of an individual’s oral health changes, the dental hygienist
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
(within the scope of the clinical setting) can provide some degree of intervention to direct the
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
individual back to oral wellness.
ff ff ff ff ff
Provide fluoride varnish treatment. This is a service provided in the clinical setting. The
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related to dental
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
caries. Fluoride varnish treatments prolong fluoride exposure on the tooth surface for safe and
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
effective caries control.
ff ff ff
Place and remove restorations. This service is not provided by the majority of dental
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
hygienists in the clinical setting. Only a few dental hygienists have the certification to place
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
restorations, while many others do not. Also, the removal of restorations is not a given action of
ff ff ff ff ff ff f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
a dental hygienist in the clinical setting.
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
REF: f f f f Clinician | 3 ff ff
4. Which of the following is a key behavior within the dental hygiene process of care?
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
a. Observation
b. Diagnosis
c. Communication skills ff
ff ff ff ff ff
MULTIPLE CHOICE ff
1. What is the discipline of dental hygiene?
ff ff ff ff ff ff
a. The study of teeth and their supporting structures
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
b. Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
twice a day, morning and night
ff ff ff ff ff ff
c. The study of preventive oral healthcare, including the management of behavior to
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
prevent oral disease and promote health
ff ff ff ff ff ff
d. The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to clients
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
ANS: f f C
The study of teeth and their supporting structures. This answer is wrong because the discipline
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
of dental hygiene covers much more information than the study of teeth and supporting
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
structures. Dental hygiene focuses on the preventive measures that the teeth and supporting
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
structures must receive, in addition to other oral healthcare steps that must be taken to
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
promote one’s health.
f f ff ff
Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse twice a day,
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
morning and night. This answer is wrong because this statement describes only one procedure
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
within the discipline of dental hygiene. Dental hygiene is a much larger and general field of
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
study than this simple preventive action.
ff ff ff ff ff ff
The study of preventive oral healthcare including the management of behavior to prevent oral
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
disease and promote health. This answer is correct because this is the direct definition of
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
dental hygiene. The definition can be broken down into smaller, specified divisions to further
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
develop the discipline of dental hygiene.
ff ff ff ff ff ff
The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to clients. This answer is wrong
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
because dental hygienists play many interrelated roles, such as clinician, educator,
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
administrator or manager, advocate, and researcher. Although each of these roles is created to
ff ff ff ff ff ff f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
assist in dental hygiene, the discipline is not centered on the actions and procedures of the
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
dental hygienist.
ff ff
REF: f f f f What is Dental Hygiene? | 1 ff ff ff ff ff
2. Who is the professional dental hygienist?
ff ff ff ff ff
a. A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from a
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental hygiene
ff ff ff f ff ff ff ff ff
program ff
b. A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program, such as
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
the Alabama Dental Hygienists Program
ff ff ff ff ff
c. A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation,
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff f
, accredited, dental school program
ff ff ff ff
d. A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation,
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff f
accredited, dental assisting program
ff ff ff ff
ANS: f f A
, A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from a Commission on
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental hygiene program. This answer is correct
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
because to be eligible as a professional dental hygienist, the person must have graduated from
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
an accredited dental hygiene program.
ff ff ff ff ff
A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program, such as the
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
Alabama Dental Hygienists Program. This answer is wrong because a dental hygienist cannot
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
learn on the job to become a professional. Rather, they must pass written examinations and
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program.
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, dental
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff f ff ff
school program. This answer is wrong because a dentist has a higher degree than a dental
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
hygienist and therefore, generally, works above a dental hygienist. It is not necessary for a
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
dental hygienist to receive an education from a dental school.
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, dental
f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff f ff ff
assisting program. This answer is wrong because a person graduating from an accredited
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
dental assisting program would only be licensed as a dental assistant.
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
REF: f f f f Who Is the Dental Hygienist? | 1 ff ff ff ff ff ff
3. All of these services are provided by the majority of dental hygienists in the clinical setting
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
except one. Which one is the exception?
ff ff ff ff ff ff
a. Perform periodontal maintenance care. ff ff ff
b. Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
c. Provide fluoride varnish treatment. ff ff ff
d. Place and remove restorations. ff ff ff
ANS: f f D
Perform periodontal maintenance care. This is a service provided in the clinical setting. The
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related to
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
periodontal disease. For example: subgingival sustained-release delivery systems containing
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
chlorhexidine.
ff
Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. This is a service provided in
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
the clinical setting. The main goal of a dental hygienist is to prevent oral disease and promote
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
health. Therefore, if the state of an individual’s oral health changes, the dental hygienist
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
(within the scope of the clinical setting) can provide some degree of intervention to direct the
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
individual back to oral wellness.
ff ff ff ff ff
Provide fluoride varnish treatment. This is a service provided in the clinical setting. The
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related to dental
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
caries. Fluoride varnish treatments prolong fluoride exposure on the tooth surface for safe and
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
effective caries control.
ff ff ff
Place and remove restorations. This service is not provided by the majority of dental
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
hygienists in the clinical setting. Only a few dental hygienists have the certification to place
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
restorations, while many others do not. Also, the removal of restorations is not a given action of
ff ff ff ff ff ff f ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
a dental hygienist in the clinical setting.
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
REF: f f f f Clinician | 3 ff ff
4. Which of the following is a key behavior within the dental hygiene process of care?
ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff ff
a. Observation
b. Diagnosis
c. Communication skills ff
