CHAPTER 33 NONSURGICAL
PERIODONTAL THERAPY EXAM
Final Examination Questions & Answers with Verified Solutions
2026/2027
1. What is the primary objective of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT)?
A. Eliminating all oral bacteria permanently from the oral cavity
B. Returning the periodontium to a state of biological health and functional stability
C. Removing attached gingiva to increase clinical crown height
D. Surgically recontouring alveolar bone margins
Rationale: The principal goal of NSPT is to eliminate etiology (plaque biofilm and calculus) to re-establish
a healthy, biologically compatible periodontal tissue environment.
2. Which procedure is defined as the removal of plaque biofilm and calculus from tooth
root surfaces to smooth rough areas?
A. Gingival curettage
B. Root planing
C. Coronal polishing
D. Gingivectomy
Rationale: Root planing specifically targets residual calculus and contaminated cementum on root
surfaces to promote tissue reattachment.
3. What is the primary microbial cause of periodontal tissue destruction?
A. Dental plaque biofilm
B. Supragingival calculus alone
C. Dietary sucrose intake
D. Salivary mucins
Rationale: Living microbial plaque biofilm is the primary etiologic agent responsible for initiating
inflammatory periodontal disease.
, 4. What type of healing expectedly predominates after successful nonsurgical
periodontal instrumentation?
A. Regeneration of alveolar bone height
B. Formation of a long junctional epithelium
C. New cementum attachment with new Sharpey's fibers
D. Complete elimination of gingival sulcus depth
Rationale: Readaptation of tissue to the root surface following NSPT occurs primarily through the
formation of a long junctional epithelium rather than new bone or periodontal ligament fiber attachment.
5. How long after completion of nonsurgical periodontal therapy should a re-evaluation
appointment typically be scheduled?
A. 1 to 2 weeks
B. 4 to 6 weeks
C. 3 to 4 months
D. 6 to 8 months
Rationale: A 4 to 6 week interval allows sufficient time for connective tissue and epithelial repair before
probing depth reassessment.
6. Which instrument is designed specifically with one working cutting edge per blade for
site-specific periodontal debridement?
A. Universal curette
B. Gracey curette
C. Sickle scaler
D. Periodontal file
Rationale: Gracey area-specific curettes feature an offset blade angled at 70 degrees, providing a single
functional cutting edge adapted for specific tooth surfaces.
7. What is the main physical mechanism by which ultrasonic scalers remove calculus
deposits from tooth surfaces?
A. High-frequency mechanical vibrations coupled with acoustic microstreaming
B. Chemical dissolution of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals
C. Thermal vaporization of calculus matrix bonds
D. Manual leverage action from flexible working tips
PERIODONTAL THERAPY EXAM
Final Examination Questions & Answers with Verified Solutions
2026/2027
1. What is the primary objective of nonsurgical periodontal therapy (NSPT)?
A. Eliminating all oral bacteria permanently from the oral cavity
B. Returning the periodontium to a state of biological health and functional stability
C. Removing attached gingiva to increase clinical crown height
D. Surgically recontouring alveolar bone margins
Rationale: The principal goal of NSPT is to eliminate etiology (plaque biofilm and calculus) to re-establish
a healthy, biologically compatible periodontal tissue environment.
2. Which procedure is defined as the removal of plaque biofilm and calculus from tooth
root surfaces to smooth rough areas?
A. Gingival curettage
B. Root planing
C. Coronal polishing
D. Gingivectomy
Rationale: Root planing specifically targets residual calculus and contaminated cementum on root
surfaces to promote tissue reattachment.
3. What is the primary microbial cause of periodontal tissue destruction?
A. Dental plaque biofilm
B. Supragingival calculus alone
C. Dietary sucrose intake
D. Salivary mucins
Rationale: Living microbial plaque biofilm is the primary etiologic agent responsible for initiating
inflammatory periodontal disease.
, 4. What type of healing expectedly predominates after successful nonsurgical
periodontal instrumentation?
A. Regeneration of alveolar bone height
B. Formation of a long junctional epithelium
C. New cementum attachment with new Sharpey's fibers
D. Complete elimination of gingival sulcus depth
Rationale: Readaptation of tissue to the root surface following NSPT occurs primarily through the
formation of a long junctional epithelium rather than new bone or periodontal ligament fiber attachment.
5. How long after completion of nonsurgical periodontal therapy should a re-evaluation
appointment typically be scheduled?
A. 1 to 2 weeks
B. 4 to 6 weeks
C. 3 to 4 months
D. 6 to 8 months
Rationale: A 4 to 6 week interval allows sufficient time for connective tissue and epithelial repair before
probing depth reassessment.
6. Which instrument is designed specifically with one working cutting edge per blade for
site-specific periodontal debridement?
A. Universal curette
B. Gracey curette
C. Sickle scaler
D. Periodontal file
Rationale: Gracey area-specific curettes feature an offset blade angled at 70 degrees, providing a single
functional cutting edge adapted for specific tooth surfaces.
7. What is the main physical mechanism by which ultrasonic scalers remove calculus
deposits from tooth surfaces?
A. High-frequency mechanical vibrations coupled with acoustic microstreaming
B. Chemical dissolution of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals
C. Thermal vaporization of calculus matrix bonds
D. Manual leverage action from flexible working tips
