NATIONAL BOARD DENTAL HYGIENE
EXAMINATION PREP 2 | DENTAL HYGIENIST |
LATEST 2025-2026 QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION WEST COAST
UNIVERSITY
Question 1
A patient presents with localized vertical bone loss on teeth #8 and #9
with rapid attachment loss over 6 months. The patient is 22 years old and
otherwise healthy. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Chronic periodontitis
B. Stage II periodontitis
C. Grade C periodontitis (rapid progression)
D. Gingivitis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rapid attachment loss in a young, otherwise healthy patient
indicates Grade C periodontitis.
Question 2
Which clinical finding most strongly differentiates gingivitis from
periodontitis?
A. Bleeding on probing
B. Plaque accumulation
C. Clinical attachment loss
D. Gingival erythema
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Periodontitis is defined by loss of clinical attachment.
Question 3
A patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy presents with delayed
healing after scaling and root planing. What is the most likely cause?
,A. Increased collagen synthesis
B. Immunosuppression and impaired wound healing
C. Increased salivary flow
D. Hyperactive fibroblasts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress immune response and tissue repair.
Question 4
Which microorganism is most associated with aggressive periodontitis?
A. Streptococcus mutans
B. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
C. Lactobacillus acidophilus
D. Candida albicans
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A. actinomycetemcomitans is strongly linked to aggressive
disease.
Question 5
A radiograph shows a “floating tooth” appearance. What is the most
likely diagnosis?
A. Osteosarcoma
B. Langerhans cell histiocytosis
C. Periapical abscess
D. Fibrous dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: LCH causes severe bone destruction leading to floating teeth.
Question 6
Which anesthetic agent is contraindicated in patients with sulfite
sensitivity?
, A. Lidocaine with epinephrine
B. Mepivacaine plain
C. Prilocaine plain
D. Bupivacaine plain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Epinephrine-containing cartridges often contain sulfites as
preservatives.
Question 7
A patient presents with necrotizing periodontal disease. Which systemic
factor is most commonly associated?
A. Hypertension
B. HIV infection
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Asthma
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Immunosuppression, especially HIV, is a major risk factor.
Question 8
Which radiographic sign is characteristic of early periodontal disease?
A. Loss of lamina dura
B. Root resorption
C. Hypercementosis
D. Periapical radiolucency
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Loss of lamina dura is an early radiographic change.
Question 9
Which medication is most associated with gingival hyperplasia?
EXAMINATION PREP 2 | DENTAL HYGIENIST |
LATEST 2025-2026 QUESTION AND CORRECT
ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION WEST COAST
UNIVERSITY
Question 1
A patient presents with localized vertical bone loss on teeth #8 and #9
with rapid attachment loss over 6 months. The patient is 22 years old and
otherwise healthy. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Chronic periodontitis
B. Stage II periodontitis
C. Grade C periodontitis (rapid progression)
D. Gingivitis
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Rapid attachment loss in a young, otherwise healthy patient
indicates Grade C periodontitis.
Question 2
Which clinical finding most strongly differentiates gingivitis from
periodontitis?
A. Bleeding on probing
B. Plaque accumulation
C. Clinical attachment loss
D. Gingival erythema
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Periodontitis is defined by loss of clinical attachment.
Question 3
A patient on long-term corticosteroid therapy presents with delayed
healing after scaling and root planing. What is the most likely cause?
,A. Increased collagen synthesis
B. Immunosuppression and impaired wound healing
C. Increased salivary flow
D. Hyperactive fibroblasts
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Corticosteroids suppress immune response and tissue repair.
Question 4
Which microorganism is most associated with aggressive periodontitis?
A. Streptococcus mutans
B. Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans
C. Lactobacillus acidophilus
D. Candida albicans
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A. actinomycetemcomitans is strongly linked to aggressive
disease.
Question 5
A radiograph shows a “floating tooth” appearance. What is the most
likely diagnosis?
A. Osteosarcoma
B. Langerhans cell histiocytosis
C. Periapical abscess
D. Fibrous dysplasia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: LCH causes severe bone destruction leading to floating teeth.
Question 6
Which anesthetic agent is contraindicated in patients with sulfite
sensitivity?
, A. Lidocaine with epinephrine
B. Mepivacaine plain
C. Prilocaine plain
D. Bupivacaine plain
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Epinephrine-containing cartridges often contain sulfites as
preservatives.
Question 7
A patient presents with necrotizing periodontal disease. Which systemic
factor is most commonly associated?
A. Hypertension
B. HIV infection
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Asthma
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Immunosuppression, especially HIV, is a major risk factor.
Question 8
Which radiographic sign is characteristic of early periodontal disease?
A. Loss of lamina dura
B. Root resorption
C. Hypercementosis
D. Periapical radiolucency
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Loss of lamina dura is an early radiographic change.
Question 9
Which medication is most associated with gingival hyperplasia?
