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