,Chapter 01: The Dental Hygiene Profession
oo oo oo oo oo
MULTIPLE CHOICE oo
1. What is the discipline of dental hygiene?
oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. The study of teeth and their supporting structures
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
b. Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
rinse twice a day, morning and night
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
c. The study of preventive oral healthcare, including the management of
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
behavior to prevent oral disease and promote health
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
d. The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to clients
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
ANS: o o C
The study of teeth and their supporting structures. This answer is wrong because the
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
discipline of dental hygiene covers much more information than the study of teeth and
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
supporting structures. Dental hygiene focuses on the preventive measures that the teeth
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
and supporting structures must receive, in addition to other oral healthcare steps that
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
must be taken to promote one’s health.
oo oo oo oo o o oo oo
Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse twice a
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
day, morning and night. This answer is wrong because this statement describes only one
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
procedure within the discipline of dental hygiene. Dental hygiene is a much larger and
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
general field of study than this simple preventive action.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
The study of preventive oral healthcare including the management of behavior to prevent
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
oral disease and promote health. This answer is correct because this is the direct
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
definition of dental hygiene. The definition can be broken down into smaller, specified
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
divisions to further develop the discipline of dental hygiene.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to clients. This answer is
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
wrong because dental hygienists play many interrelated roles, such as clinician,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
educator, administrator or manager, advocate, and researcher. Although each of these
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
roles is created to assist in dental hygiene, the discipline is not centered on the actions
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
and procedures of the dental hygienist.
oo oo oo oo oo oo
REF: oo oo What is Dental Hygiene? | 1 oo oo oo oo oo
2. Who is the professional dental hygienist?
oo oo oo oo oo
a. A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
hygiene program
oo oo
b. A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
such as the Alabama Dental Hygienists Program
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
c. A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Accreditation, accredited, dental school program
oo oo oo oo oo
d. A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Accreditation, accredited, dental assisting program
oo oo oo oo oo
ANS: o o A
, A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from a Commission on
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental hygiene program. This answer is
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
correct because to be eligible as a professional dental hygienist, the person must have
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program, such as the
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Alabama Dental Hygienists Program. This answer is wrong because a dental hygienist
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
cannot learn on the job to become a professional. Rather, they must pass written
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
examinations and graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
dental school program. This answer is wrong because a dentist has a higher degree
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
than a dental hygienist and therefore, generally, works above a dental hygienist. It is
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
not necessary for a dental hygienist to receive an education from a dental school.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
dental assisting program. This answer is wrong because a person graduating from an
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
accredited dental assisting program would only be licensed as a dental assistant.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
REF: oo oo Who Is the Dental Hygienist? | 1
oo oo oo oo oo oo
3. All of these services are provided by the majority of dental hygienists in the clinical setting
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
except one. Which one is the exception?
oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. Perform periodontal maintenance care. oo oo oo
b. Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
c. Provide fluoride varnish treatment. oo oo oo
d. Place and remove restorations. oo oo oo
ANS: o o D
Perform periodontal maintenance care. This is a service provided in the clinical setting.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
The clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
to periodontal disease. For example: subgingival sustained-release delivery systems
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
containing chlorhexidine.
oo oo
Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. This is a service
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
provided in the clinical setting. The main goal of a dental hygienist is to prevent oral
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
disease and promote health. Therefore, if the state of an individual’s oral health
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
changes, the dental hygienist (within the scope of the clinical setting) can provide some
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
degree of intervention to direct the individual back to oral wellness.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Provide fluoride varnish treatment. This is a service provided in the clinical setting. The
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related to
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
dental caries. Fluoride varnish treatments prolong fluoride exposure on the tooth surface
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
for safe and effective caries control.
oo oo oo oo oo oo
Place and remove restorations. This service is not provided by the majority of dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
hygienists in the clinical setting. Only a few dental hygienists have the certification to
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
place restorations, while many others do not. Also, the removal of restorations is not a
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
given action of a dental hygienist in the clinical setting.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
REF: oo oo Clinician | 3 oo oo
4. Which of the following is a key behavior within the dental hygiene process of care?
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. Observation
b. Diagnosis
c. Communication skills oo
, d. Client care oo
ANS: o o B
Observation. This answer is wrong because dental hygienists must go further than simply
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
observing the client. The hygienist must assess the client by thoroughly collecting data.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Diagnosis. This answer is correct because identifying the diagnosis is the focal point
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
for establishing goals in the dental hygiene care plan. The client’s dental hygiene needs
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
are determined so that specific interventions can be implemented.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Communication skills. This answer is wrong because the communication skills are not a key
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
behavior and are not necessary to complete the dental hygiene process.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Client care. This answer is wrong because client care is not one of the steps in dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
hygiene care. However, proper client care is the goal being achieved through the key
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
behaviors.
oo
REF: o o What Is the Dental Hygiene Process of Care? | 1
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
5. Which of the following is not an environmental factor that the dental hygienist takes
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
into account in the Human Needs Model?
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. Age
b. Attitudes
c. Lifestyles
d. Weight
ANS: o o D
Age. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because age
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
plays a large role in the development of an individual’s oral health.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Attitudes. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
it can have an effect on the dental hygiene process.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Lifestyles. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because an
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
individual’s oral health can be affected by lifestyle choices.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Weight. This answer is not an environmental factor that must be taken into account
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
because an individual’s weight does not affect their oral health. The diet choices that go
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
along with a person’s particular weight may affect oral health, but the overall weight of
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
an individual does not.
oo oo oo oo
REF: o o What Is the Dental Hygiene Process of Care? | 1
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
6. Which of the following is not one of the seven roles of a dental hygienist?
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. Clinician
b. Public Health oo
c. Interpreter
d. Researcher
ANS: o o C
The seven roles of a dental hygienist are clinician, public health, researcher, educator,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
administrator, and entrepreneur.
oo oo oo
REF: o o Chapter One, Table 1-1 Seven Roles of the Dental Hygienist | 4
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
7. What is a paradigm? oo oo oo
a. A widely accepted worldview of a discipline that shapes the knowledge
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
of its practitioners, educators, administrators, and researchers
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
oo oo oo oo oo
MULTIPLE CHOICE oo
1. What is the discipline of dental hygiene?
oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. The study of teeth and their supporting structures
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
b. Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
rinse twice a day, morning and night
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
c. The study of preventive oral healthcare, including the management of
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
behavior to prevent oral disease and promote health
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
d. The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to clients
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
ANS: o o C
The study of teeth and their supporting structures. This answer is wrong because the
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
discipline of dental hygiene covers much more information than the study of teeth and
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
supporting structures. Dental hygiene focuses on the preventive measures that the teeth
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
and supporting structures must receive, in addition to other oral healthcare steps that
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
must be taken to promote one’s health.
oo oo oo oo o o oo oo
Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse twice a
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
day, morning and night. This answer is wrong because this statement describes only one
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
procedure within the discipline of dental hygiene. Dental hygiene is a much larger and
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
general field of study than this simple preventive action.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
The study of preventive oral healthcare including the management of behavior to prevent
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
oral disease and promote health. This answer is correct because this is the direct
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
definition of dental hygiene. The definition can be broken down into smaller, specified
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
divisions to further develop the discipline of dental hygiene.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to clients. This answer is
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
wrong because dental hygienists play many interrelated roles, such as clinician,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
educator, administrator or manager, advocate, and researcher. Although each of these
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
roles is created to assist in dental hygiene, the discipline is not centered on the actions
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
and procedures of the dental hygienist.
oo oo oo oo oo oo
REF: oo oo What is Dental Hygiene? | 1 oo oo oo oo oo
2. Who is the professional dental hygienist?
oo oo oo oo oo
a. A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
hygiene program
oo oo
b. A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
such as the Alabama Dental Hygienists Program
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
c. A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Accreditation, accredited, dental school program
oo oo oo oo oo
d. A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Accreditation, accredited, dental assisting program
oo oo oo oo oo
ANS: o o A
, A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from a Commission on
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental hygiene program. This answer is
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
correct because to be eligible as a professional dental hygienist, the person must have
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
graduated from an accredited dental hygiene program.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program, such as the
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Alabama Dental Hygienists Program. This answer is wrong because a dental hygienist
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
cannot learn on the job to become a professional. Rather, they must pass written
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
examinations and graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
dental school program. This answer is wrong because a dentist has a higher degree
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
than a dental hygienist and therefore, generally, works above a dental hygienist. It is
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
not necessary for a dental hygienist to receive an education from a dental school.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited,
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
dental assisting program. This answer is wrong because a person graduating from an
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
accredited dental assisting program would only be licensed as a dental assistant.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
REF: oo oo Who Is the Dental Hygienist? | 1
oo oo oo oo oo oo
3. All of these services are provided by the majority of dental hygienists in the clinical setting
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
except one. Which one is the exception?
oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. Perform periodontal maintenance care. oo oo oo
b. Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
c. Provide fluoride varnish treatment. oo oo oo
d. Place and remove restorations. oo oo oo
ANS: o o D
Perform periodontal maintenance care. This is a service provided in the clinical setting.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
The clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
to periodontal disease. For example: subgingival sustained-release delivery systems
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
containing chlorhexidine.
oo oo
Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. This is a service
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
provided in the clinical setting. The main goal of a dental hygienist is to prevent oral
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
disease and promote health. Therefore, if the state of an individual’s oral health
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
changes, the dental hygienist (within the scope of the clinical setting) can provide some
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
degree of intervention to direct the individual back to oral wellness.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Provide fluoride varnish treatment. This is a service provided in the clinical setting. The
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related to
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
dental caries. Fluoride varnish treatments prolong fluoride exposure on the tooth surface
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
for safe and effective caries control.
oo oo oo oo oo oo
Place and remove restorations. This service is not provided by the majority of dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
hygienists in the clinical setting. Only a few dental hygienists have the certification to
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
place restorations, while many others do not. Also, the removal of restorations is not a
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
given action of a dental hygienist in the clinical setting.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
REF: oo oo Clinician | 3 oo oo
4. Which of the following is a key behavior within the dental hygiene process of care?
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. Observation
b. Diagnosis
c. Communication skills oo
, d. Client care oo
ANS: o o B
Observation. This answer is wrong because dental hygienists must go further than simply
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
observing the client. The hygienist must assess the client by thoroughly collecting data.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Diagnosis. This answer is correct because identifying the diagnosis is the focal point
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
for establishing goals in the dental hygiene care plan. The client’s dental hygiene needs
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
are determined so that specific interventions can be implemented.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Communication skills. This answer is wrong because the communication skills are not a key
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
behavior and are not necessary to complete the dental hygiene process.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Client care. This answer is wrong because client care is not one of the steps in dental
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
hygiene care. However, proper client care is the goal being achieved through the key
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
behaviors.
oo
REF: o o What Is the Dental Hygiene Process of Care? | 1
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
5. Which of the following is not an environmental factor that the dental hygienist takes
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
into account in the Human Needs Model?
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
a. Age
b. Attitudes
c. Lifestyles
d. Weight
ANS: o o D
Age. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because age
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
plays a large role in the development of an individual’s oral health.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Attitudes. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
it can have an effect on the dental hygiene process.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Lifestyles. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because an
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
individual’s oral health can be affected by lifestyle choices.
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
Weight. This answer is not an environmental factor that must be taken into account
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
because an individual’s weight does not affect their oral health. The diet choices that go
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
along with a person’s particular weight may affect oral health, but the overall weight of
oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo
an individual does not.
oo oo oo oo
REF: o o What Is the Dental Hygiene Process of Care? | 1
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6. Which of the following is not one of the seven roles of a dental hygienist?
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a. Clinician
b. Public Health oo
c. Interpreter
d. Researcher
ANS: o o C
The seven roles of a dental hygienist are clinician, public health, researcher, educator,
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administrator, and entrepreneur.
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REF: o o Chapter One, Table 1-1 Seven Roles of the Dental Hygienist | 4
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7. What is a paradigm? oo oo oo
a. A widely accepted worldview of a discipline that shapes the knowledge
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of its practitioners, educators, administrators, and researchers
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