PERIO EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Which of the following tissues is not part of the periodontium?
a. periodontal ligament
b. gingiva
c. cementum
d. alveolar mucosa - Answers - d. alveolar mucosa
During mastication, the tooth is cushioned from occlusal forces by the:
a. periodontal ligament
b. gingiva
c. cementum
d. alveolar bone - Answers - a. periodontal ligament
A patient has deep pockets and has had 3-month appointments with a dental hygienist
for many, many years. At each visit, the hygienists who have treated her have
performed periodontal instrumentation on the roots of all the teeth using a very firm,
scraping stroke. After many years, the periodontal instrumentation might remove a part
of the periodontium. Which anatomical area of the periodontium could be removed from
the root after years of instrumentation?
a. periodontal ligament
b. gingiva
c. cementum
d. alveolar bone - Answers - c. cementum
While assessing the gingival tissue, the hygienist notes that there appear to be "open
spaces" apical to the contact areas of many of the patient's teeth. Which anatomical
area of the gingiva is "missing," resulting in the "open spaces"?
a. attached gingiva
b. interdental gingiva
c. gingival sulcus
d. interdental col - Answers - b. interdental gingiva
Nerve supply to the periodontium is derived from branches of the ____ nerve.
a. transseptal
b. trigeminal
c. facial
d. glossopharyngeal - Answers - b. trigeminal
A dentist extracts a third molar tooth because it is crowding the adjacent teeth and is
difficult for the patient to clean. Once the tooth is extracted, if the dentist looks into the
tooth socket, she will be looking at which anatomical structure?
a. alveolar bone proper
b. cortical bone
c. cancellous bone
, d. spongy bone - Answers - a. alveolar bone proper
The depth of a clinically normal gingival sulcus is no greater than:
a. 1 mm
b. 3 mm
c. 5 mm
d. 7mm - Answers - b. 3 mm
Two neighboring epithelial cells in the gingival epithelium are attached to one another
by which type of cell junction?
a. polymosome
b. desmosome
c. hemidesmosome
d. unidesmosome - Answers - b. desmosome
A dental hygienist gently inserts a calibrated periodontal probe into a sulcus. One side
of the working end of the probe touches the tooth surface as the probe is inserted.
During the process of insertion, the other side of the probe is touching which of the
following anatomical structures?
a. junctional epithelium
b. sulcular epithelium
c. basal epithelium
d. oral epithelium - Answers - b. sulcular epithelium
All of the following statements about keratinization are true except:
a. keratinized epithelium cells have no nuclei
b. the heaviest keratinized epithelium of the body if found on the palms of hand and
soles of feet
c. keratinized cells are waterproof
d. although keratinized tissue is very strong, it is also very flexible - Answers - d.
although keratinized tissue is very strong, it is also very flexible
All of the following are true of oral epithelium except:
a. It may be keratinized or parakeratinized
b. The junction with connective tissue in health has a wavy interface
c. It is permeable, allowing for flow of crevicular fluid
d. It covers the outer surface of free gingiva and attached gingiva - Answers - c. It is
permeable, allowing for flow of crevicular fluid
All of the following are functions of the periodontal ligament except:
a. it attaches the tooth to the bony socket
b. it provides sensory and nutritive function
c. it unites free gingiva with cementum
d. it produces osteoclasts to resorb bone - Answers - c. it unites free gingiva with
cementum
Which of the following tissues is not part of the periodontium?
a. periodontal ligament
b. gingiva
c. cementum
d. alveolar mucosa - Answers - d. alveolar mucosa
During mastication, the tooth is cushioned from occlusal forces by the:
a. periodontal ligament
b. gingiva
c. cementum
d. alveolar bone - Answers - a. periodontal ligament
A patient has deep pockets and has had 3-month appointments with a dental hygienist
for many, many years. At each visit, the hygienists who have treated her have
performed periodontal instrumentation on the roots of all the teeth using a very firm,
scraping stroke. After many years, the periodontal instrumentation might remove a part
of the periodontium. Which anatomical area of the periodontium could be removed from
the root after years of instrumentation?
a. periodontal ligament
b. gingiva
c. cementum
d. alveolar bone - Answers - c. cementum
While assessing the gingival tissue, the hygienist notes that there appear to be "open
spaces" apical to the contact areas of many of the patient's teeth. Which anatomical
area of the gingiva is "missing," resulting in the "open spaces"?
a. attached gingiva
b. interdental gingiva
c. gingival sulcus
d. interdental col - Answers - b. interdental gingiva
Nerve supply to the periodontium is derived from branches of the ____ nerve.
a. transseptal
b. trigeminal
c. facial
d. glossopharyngeal - Answers - b. trigeminal
A dentist extracts a third molar tooth because it is crowding the adjacent teeth and is
difficult for the patient to clean. Once the tooth is extracted, if the dentist looks into the
tooth socket, she will be looking at which anatomical structure?
a. alveolar bone proper
b. cortical bone
c. cancellous bone
, d. spongy bone - Answers - a. alveolar bone proper
The depth of a clinically normal gingival sulcus is no greater than:
a. 1 mm
b. 3 mm
c. 5 mm
d. 7mm - Answers - b. 3 mm
Two neighboring epithelial cells in the gingival epithelium are attached to one another
by which type of cell junction?
a. polymosome
b. desmosome
c. hemidesmosome
d. unidesmosome - Answers - b. desmosome
A dental hygienist gently inserts a calibrated periodontal probe into a sulcus. One side
of the working end of the probe touches the tooth surface as the probe is inserted.
During the process of insertion, the other side of the probe is touching which of the
following anatomical structures?
a. junctional epithelium
b. sulcular epithelium
c. basal epithelium
d. oral epithelium - Answers - b. sulcular epithelium
All of the following statements about keratinization are true except:
a. keratinized epithelium cells have no nuclei
b. the heaviest keratinized epithelium of the body if found on the palms of hand and
soles of feet
c. keratinized cells are waterproof
d. although keratinized tissue is very strong, it is also very flexible - Answers - d.
although keratinized tissue is very strong, it is also very flexible
All of the following are true of oral epithelium except:
a. It may be keratinized or parakeratinized
b. The junction with connective tissue in health has a wavy interface
c. It is permeable, allowing for flow of crevicular fluid
d. It covers the outer surface of free gingiva and attached gingiva - Answers - c. It is
permeable, allowing for flow of crevicular fluid
All of the following are functions of the periodontal ligament except:
a. it attaches the tooth to the bony socket
b. it provides sensory and nutritive function
c. it unites free gingiva with cementum
d. it produces osteoclasts to resorb bone - Answers - c. it unites free gingiva with
cementum
