GENERAL AND ORAL PATHOLOGY FOR
DENTAL HYGIENE PRACTICE
AUTHOR(S)MYERS, SANDRA; CURRAN,
ALICE
TEST BANK
Question 1
Reference — Ch. 1 — The Practice of Oral and Maxillofacial
Pathology
Question Stem
A 52-year-old patient is referred after an oral lesion biopsy was
interpreted as “suspicious for dysplasia.” As the dental hygienist
preparing the patient for oral surgery, which component of the
pathology report is most important to review to guide pre-
operative counseling and safety planning?
Options
A. The laboratory accession number
B. The histologic diagnosis and grade (if provided)
C. The slide mounting technique used by the lab
D. The date the specimen was received by the lab
,Correct Answer
B
Rationales
• Correct (B): The histologic diagnosis and grade convey the
nature and severity of the lesion and directly affect clinical
management, need for margins, and counseling.
• Incorrect (A): The accession number is important for
tracking but does not inform clinical decision-making
about treatment.
• Incorrect (C): Slide mounting technique is a technical detail
that rarely changes immediate clinical management.
• Incorrect (D): Receipt date helps turnaround time
assessment but not immediate clinical risk or
management.
Teaching Point
Histologic diagnosis and grade drive treatment planning and
patient counseling.
Citation
Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral Pathology for
Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
Reference — Ch. 1 — Assessment of Oral Pathologic Lesions
,Question Stem
During an oral exam you note a small, well-circumscribed,
yellowish submucosal nodule on the buccal mucosa that is soft
and compressible. Which assessment feature most strongly
suggests this lesion is a mucous retention phenomenon
(mucocele) rather than a lipoma?
Options
A. The lesion is yellowish in color
B. The lesion is located on buccal mucosa
C. The lesion is compressible and fluctuant
D. The lesion is well circumscribed
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
• Correct (C): Compressibility/fluctuance suggests a fluid-
filled lesion like a mucocele, whereas lipomas are typically
soft but not fluctuant.
• Incorrect (A): Yellow color can be seen with lipomas and
sebaceous lesions; color alone is non-specific.
• Incorrect (B): Mucoceles are most common on lower lip,
but location alone is not definitive.
• Incorrect (D): Well-circumscribed borders are common to
both cystic and benign neoplastic lesions.
, Teaching Point
Fluctuance favors fluid-filled lesions (e.g., mucocele) over solid
tumors.
Citation
Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral Pathology for
Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 3
Reference — Ch. 1 — Patient Assessment and History
Question Stem
A patient reports a persistent white patch that they first noticed
after starting a new medication three months ago. Which
historical detail is most helpful to differentiate a medication-
related lichenoid reaction from idiopathic oral lichen planus?
Options
A. Whether lesions are bilateral and symmetrical
B. Time relationship between drug initiation and lesion onset
C. Patient’s tobacco use history
D. Presence of associated skin lesions
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
DENTAL HYGIENE PRACTICE
AUTHOR(S)MYERS, SANDRA; CURRAN,
ALICE
TEST BANK
Question 1
Reference — Ch. 1 — The Practice of Oral and Maxillofacial
Pathology
Question Stem
A 52-year-old patient is referred after an oral lesion biopsy was
interpreted as “suspicious for dysplasia.” As the dental hygienist
preparing the patient for oral surgery, which component of the
pathology report is most important to review to guide pre-
operative counseling and safety planning?
Options
A. The laboratory accession number
B. The histologic diagnosis and grade (if provided)
C. The slide mounting technique used by the lab
D. The date the specimen was received by the lab
,Correct Answer
B
Rationales
• Correct (B): The histologic diagnosis and grade convey the
nature and severity of the lesion and directly affect clinical
management, need for margins, and counseling.
• Incorrect (A): The accession number is important for
tracking but does not inform clinical decision-making
about treatment.
• Incorrect (C): Slide mounting technique is a technical detail
that rarely changes immediate clinical management.
• Incorrect (D): Receipt date helps turnaround time
assessment but not immediate clinical risk or
management.
Teaching Point
Histologic diagnosis and grade drive treatment planning and
patient counseling.
Citation
Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral Pathology for
Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 2
Reference — Ch. 1 — Assessment of Oral Pathologic Lesions
,Question Stem
During an oral exam you note a small, well-circumscribed,
yellowish submucosal nodule on the buccal mucosa that is soft
and compressible. Which assessment feature most strongly
suggests this lesion is a mucous retention phenomenon
(mucocele) rather than a lipoma?
Options
A. The lesion is yellowish in color
B. The lesion is located on buccal mucosa
C. The lesion is compressible and fluctuant
D. The lesion is well circumscribed
Correct Answer
C
Rationales
• Correct (C): Compressibility/fluctuance suggests a fluid-
filled lesion like a mucocele, whereas lipomas are typically
soft but not fluctuant.
• Incorrect (A): Yellow color can be seen with lipomas and
sebaceous lesions; color alone is non-specific.
• Incorrect (B): Mucoceles are most common on lower lip,
but location alone is not definitive.
• Incorrect (D): Well-circumscribed borders are common to
both cystic and benign neoplastic lesions.
, Teaching Point
Fluctuance favors fluid-filled lesions (e.g., mucocele) over solid
tumors.
Citation
Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral Pathology for
Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
Question 3
Reference — Ch. 1 — Patient Assessment and History
Question Stem
A patient reports a persistent white patch that they first noticed
after starting a new medication three months ago. Which
historical detail is most helpful to differentiate a medication-
related lichenoid reaction from idiopathic oral lichen planus?
Options
A. Whether lesions are bilateral and symmetrical
B. Time relationship between drug initiation and lesion onset
C. Patient’s tobacco use history
D. Presence of associated skin lesions
Correct Answer
B
Rationales
