Oral Health / HPDP Exam Questions Answered Correctly Latest Update 2025-2026
What is the most common chronic disease of childhood? - Answers Dental caries
The Patient Centered Medical Home is the ideal place for all of the following EXCEPT?
Application of Flouride Varnish
Extraction of loose or abscessed teeth
Triage of oral emergencies
Managing diabetes mellitus to improve periodontal health - Answers Extraction of loose or
abscessed teeth
Which condition is associated with periodontal disease? - Answers Preterm labor
Which medication is linked to gingival hyperplasia? - Answers Phenytoin
What can a primary care clinician do to promote oral health? - Answers Collaborate with dental
and other health professionals
Which of these classes of medications is NOT generally associated with decreased salivary
flow?
Antihistamines
Antibiotics
Corticosteroids
Anticholinergics
Diuretics - Answers Antibiotics
A patient undergoing chemotherapy for cancer is at risk for which of these oral complications?
Osteonecrosis of alveolar bone
Gingival hyperplasia
Oral mucositis
Tooth fractures - Answers Oral mucositis
,Which of the following infections is NOT potentially caused by direct extension from a dental
source?
Otitis media
Sinusitis
Brain abscess
Facial cellulitis - Answers Otitis media
What is the suggested common pathway linking chronic periodontitis and conditions such as
diabetes, coronary artery disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes?
A. Direct bacterial extension
B. Poor nutrition
C. Circulating antibodies
D. Inflammation - Answers D. Inflammation
Which of the following is NOT a mechanism for inter-relationships between oral and systemic
disease?
A. Behavioral
B. Iatrogenic
C. Neurologic
D. Inflammatory - Answers C. Neurologic
Which of the following statements describes the probable mechanism for many of the
connections between oral health and systemic diseases?
A. Diabetics with chronically high blood sugar levels have high salivary sugar levels that
promotes tooth decay in the same way that eating high sugar foods does.
B. The bacterial and host response in periodontitis releases inflammatory chemical mediators
into the bloodstream that have remote effects.
C. Women with dental decay have an increased incidence of oral Group B strep that leads to
preterm labor and places the infant at risk for neonatal infection.
, D. The medications prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) cause dry
mouth which promotes dental decay. - Answers B. Periodontitis is a chronic infectious state due
to a wide range of mostly anaerobic bacteria that produce toxins that damage gum tissue.
Neutrophils attack the bacteria and macrophages clean up cellular debris and dead and dying
neutrophils. The macrophages secrete inflammatory mediators such as fatty acids, interleukin 1
and tumor necrosis factor alpha that can circulate beyond the oral cavity. This inflammatory
cascade and the systemic spread of pro-inflammatory mediators is implicated in the connection
between periodontitis and a number of systemic diseases.
Mrs. Peterson is a diabetic patient whose glucose control has recently worsened. The findings
on her oral exam are illustrated in the photo showing puffy gums, and plaque build-up along the
gum-line with some associated recession of the gingiva.
Which of the following statements is correct?
A. This patient has gingivitis which should be treated with brushing, flossing and an oral
antibacterial rinse.
B. This patient should be placed on oral antibiotics to reduce the risk of bacteremia when
brushing.
C. Scaling and root planing performed by a dentist can be expected to result in an improvement
in Mrs. Peterson's glycemic control.
D. This patient has root caries and should be referred to a dentist for extraction of the affected
teeth. - Answers C. This patient has periodontitis and should be referred to a dentist for scaling
and root planing. This process will remove the calculus along the gumline and exposed roots
and debride the pockets of infection beneath the gumline where the periodontal ligament is
being destroyed. The result will be reduction of the chronic infection that is releasing
inflammatory mediators into her systemic circulation and worsening her glycemic control. A 10
to 20% improvement in her glycemic control can be expected. This case illustrates the
importance of a team-based approach to achieve optimal oral and general health.
Mr. Sanchez takes multiple medications each day to treat his hypertension, depression, chronic
asthma and allergies. The interprofessional team managing his care reviews his medication list,
which includes hydrochlorothiazide, desipramine, intranasal fluticasone, albuterol, and
loratadine.
Which oral complication is common to all the medications Mr. Sanchez takes?
A. Cancer of the tongue
What is the most common chronic disease of childhood? - Answers Dental caries
The Patient Centered Medical Home is the ideal place for all of the following EXCEPT?
Application of Flouride Varnish
Extraction of loose or abscessed teeth
Triage of oral emergencies
Managing diabetes mellitus to improve periodontal health - Answers Extraction of loose or
abscessed teeth
Which condition is associated with periodontal disease? - Answers Preterm labor
Which medication is linked to gingival hyperplasia? - Answers Phenytoin
What can a primary care clinician do to promote oral health? - Answers Collaborate with dental
and other health professionals
Which of these classes of medications is NOT generally associated with decreased salivary
flow?
Antihistamines
Antibiotics
Corticosteroids
Anticholinergics
Diuretics - Answers Antibiotics
A patient undergoing chemotherapy for cancer is at risk for which of these oral complications?
Osteonecrosis of alveolar bone
Gingival hyperplasia
Oral mucositis
Tooth fractures - Answers Oral mucositis
,Which of the following infections is NOT potentially caused by direct extension from a dental
source?
Otitis media
Sinusitis
Brain abscess
Facial cellulitis - Answers Otitis media
What is the suggested common pathway linking chronic periodontitis and conditions such as
diabetes, coronary artery disease and adverse pregnancy outcomes?
A. Direct bacterial extension
B. Poor nutrition
C. Circulating antibodies
D. Inflammation - Answers D. Inflammation
Which of the following is NOT a mechanism for inter-relationships between oral and systemic
disease?
A. Behavioral
B. Iatrogenic
C. Neurologic
D. Inflammatory - Answers C. Neurologic
Which of the following statements describes the probable mechanism for many of the
connections between oral health and systemic diseases?
A. Diabetics with chronically high blood sugar levels have high salivary sugar levels that
promotes tooth decay in the same way that eating high sugar foods does.
B. The bacterial and host response in periodontitis releases inflammatory chemical mediators
into the bloodstream that have remote effects.
C. Women with dental decay have an increased incidence of oral Group B strep that leads to
preterm labor and places the infant at risk for neonatal infection.
, D. The medications prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) cause dry
mouth which promotes dental decay. - Answers B. Periodontitis is a chronic infectious state due
to a wide range of mostly anaerobic bacteria that produce toxins that damage gum tissue.
Neutrophils attack the bacteria and macrophages clean up cellular debris and dead and dying
neutrophils. The macrophages secrete inflammatory mediators such as fatty acids, interleukin 1
and tumor necrosis factor alpha that can circulate beyond the oral cavity. This inflammatory
cascade and the systemic spread of pro-inflammatory mediators is implicated in the connection
between periodontitis and a number of systemic diseases.
Mrs. Peterson is a diabetic patient whose glucose control has recently worsened. The findings
on her oral exam are illustrated in the photo showing puffy gums, and plaque build-up along the
gum-line with some associated recession of the gingiva.
Which of the following statements is correct?
A. This patient has gingivitis which should be treated with brushing, flossing and an oral
antibacterial rinse.
B. This patient should be placed on oral antibiotics to reduce the risk of bacteremia when
brushing.
C. Scaling and root planing performed by a dentist can be expected to result in an improvement
in Mrs. Peterson's glycemic control.
D. This patient has root caries and should be referred to a dentist for extraction of the affected
teeth. - Answers C. This patient has periodontitis and should be referred to a dentist for scaling
and root planing. This process will remove the calculus along the gumline and exposed roots
and debride the pockets of infection beneath the gumline where the periodontal ligament is
being destroyed. The result will be reduction of the chronic infection that is releasing
inflammatory mediators into her systemic circulation and worsening her glycemic control. A 10
to 20% improvement in her glycemic control can be expected. This case illustrates the
importance of a team-based approach to achieve optimal oral and general health.
Mr. Sanchez takes multiple medications each day to treat his hypertension, depression, chronic
asthma and allergies. The interprofessional team managing his care reviews his medication list,
which includes hydrochlorothiazide, desipramine, intranasal fluticasone, albuterol, and
loratadine.
Which oral complication is common to all the medications Mr. Sanchez takes?
A. Cancer of the tongue
