ESTUDYR
PA EFDA BOARD EXAM MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
1. How many molars are present in the mandibular arch?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 8
Rationale: The mandibular arch has three molars on each side, totaling six molars.
2. The permanent mandibular second molar differs from the permanent mandibular first molar by the
number of?
A. Roots
B. Cusps
C. Cusps
D. Marginal ridges
Rationale: The mandibular first molar typically has five cusps, while the second molar has four.
3. Which structure is NOT found on the occlusal surface of a mandibular molar?
A. Central groove
B. Transverse ridge
C. Cingulum
D. Triangular fossa
Rationale: The cingulum is a feature of anterior teeth, not molars.
4. A cusp of Carabelli is located on which cusp of a maxillary first molar?
A. Mesiobuccal
B. Mesiolingual
C. Distobuccal
D. Distolingual
Rationale: The cusp of Carabelli is a non-functional cusp found on the mesiolingual cusp of maxillary first
molars.
,ESTUDYR
5. What are the three round protuberances found on newly erupted incisors called?
A. Cusps
B. Ridges
C. Mamelons
D. Fossae
Rationale: Mamelons are rounded enamel extensions on the incisal edges of newly erupted incisors.
6. What structure is found on both posterior and anterior teeth?
A. Oblique ridge
B. Cingulum
C. Marginal ridges
D. Transverse ridge
Rationale: Marginal ridges are found on both anterior and posterior teeth, forming the mesial and distal
borders of the occlusal surface.
7. A lingual pit is most commonly found on which teeth?
A. Maxillary central incisors
B. Maxillary lateral incisors (teeth #7 and #10)
C. Mandibular canines
D. Mandibular first molars
Rationale: Lingual pits are commonly found on maxillary lateral incisors due to their deep lingual fossae.
8. Which molar is most likely to have three buccal cusps?
A. Maxillary first molar
B. Mandibular first molar
C. Maxillary second molar
D. Mandibular second molar
Rationale: The mandibular first molar typically has two buccal cusps, but some variations may have
three.
9. The label "Mesiobucco-occlusal" is appropriate for which structure?
A. Line angle
B. Point angle
,ESTUDYR
C. Cusp tip
D. Fossa
Rationale: A point angle is formed by the junction of three surfaces, such as mesiobuccal and occlusal
surfaces.
10. On a maxillary first premolar, what is the groove that separates the buccal and lingual cusps?
A. Buccal groove
B. Central groove
C. Lingual groove
D. Transverse groove
Rationale: The central groove runs mesiodistally, separating the buccal and lingual cusps.
11. Which molar has a Y, H, or U pattern on its occlusal surface?
A. Maxillary first molar
B. Mandibular second premolar
C. Mandibular first molar
D. Maxillary second molar
Rationale: The mandibular second premolar often exhibits a Y, H, or U groove pattern.
12. What is formed when a facial and lingual triangular ridge join?
A. Oblique ridge
B. Transverse ridge
C. Marginal ridge
D. Cingulum
Rationale: The transverse ridge is formed by the union of facial and lingual triangular ridges.
13. How many cusps does a mandibular first molar typically have?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
Rationale: The mandibular first molar typically has five cusps: mesiobuccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual,
distolingual, and distal.
, ESTUDYR
14. What is the major difference between first and second molars?
A. Number of roots
B. Number of cusps
C. Presence of oblique ridges
D. Size of the crown
Rationale: First molars typically have more cusps than second molars.
15. Which statement is true about oblique ridges?
A. Found on both maxillary and mandibular molars
B. Only maxillary molars have oblique ridges
C. Only mandibular molars have oblique ridges
D. Found on premolars
Rationale: Oblique ridges are unique to maxillary molars, connecting the mesiolingual and distobuccal
cusps.
16. What surfaces are included in the term "facial surfaces"?
A. Labial and lingual
B. Labial and buccal
C. Buccal and lingual
D. Occlusal and incisal
Rationale: Facial surfaces include both labial (anterior) and buccal (posterior) surfaces.
17. What are elevated crests of enamel that form the mesial and distal margins of the occlusal surface
called?
A. Cusps
B. Marginal ridges
C. Transverse ridges
D. Oblique ridges
Rationale: Marginal ridges form the mesial and distal borders of the occlusal surface.
18. What makes up the bulk of a tooth?
PA EFDA BOARD EXAM MOST TESTED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+ WITH RATIONALES
1. How many molars are present in the mandibular arch?
A. 4
B. 5
C. 6
D. 8
Rationale: The mandibular arch has three molars on each side, totaling six molars.
2. The permanent mandibular second molar differs from the permanent mandibular first molar by the
number of?
A. Roots
B. Cusps
C. Cusps
D. Marginal ridges
Rationale: The mandibular first molar typically has five cusps, while the second molar has four.
3. Which structure is NOT found on the occlusal surface of a mandibular molar?
A. Central groove
B. Transverse ridge
C. Cingulum
D. Triangular fossa
Rationale: The cingulum is a feature of anterior teeth, not molars.
4. A cusp of Carabelli is located on which cusp of a maxillary first molar?
A. Mesiobuccal
B. Mesiolingual
C. Distobuccal
D. Distolingual
Rationale: The cusp of Carabelli is a non-functional cusp found on the mesiolingual cusp of maxillary first
molars.
,ESTUDYR
5. What are the three round protuberances found on newly erupted incisors called?
A. Cusps
B. Ridges
C. Mamelons
D. Fossae
Rationale: Mamelons are rounded enamel extensions on the incisal edges of newly erupted incisors.
6. What structure is found on both posterior and anterior teeth?
A. Oblique ridge
B. Cingulum
C. Marginal ridges
D. Transverse ridge
Rationale: Marginal ridges are found on both anterior and posterior teeth, forming the mesial and distal
borders of the occlusal surface.
7. A lingual pit is most commonly found on which teeth?
A. Maxillary central incisors
B. Maxillary lateral incisors (teeth #7 and #10)
C. Mandibular canines
D. Mandibular first molars
Rationale: Lingual pits are commonly found on maxillary lateral incisors due to their deep lingual fossae.
8. Which molar is most likely to have three buccal cusps?
A. Maxillary first molar
B. Mandibular first molar
C. Maxillary second molar
D. Mandibular second molar
Rationale: The mandibular first molar typically has two buccal cusps, but some variations may have
three.
9. The label "Mesiobucco-occlusal" is appropriate for which structure?
A. Line angle
B. Point angle
,ESTUDYR
C. Cusp tip
D. Fossa
Rationale: A point angle is formed by the junction of three surfaces, such as mesiobuccal and occlusal
surfaces.
10. On a maxillary first premolar, what is the groove that separates the buccal and lingual cusps?
A. Buccal groove
B. Central groove
C. Lingual groove
D. Transverse groove
Rationale: The central groove runs mesiodistally, separating the buccal and lingual cusps.
11. Which molar has a Y, H, or U pattern on its occlusal surface?
A. Maxillary first molar
B. Mandibular second premolar
C. Mandibular first molar
D. Maxillary second molar
Rationale: The mandibular second premolar often exhibits a Y, H, or U groove pattern.
12. What is formed when a facial and lingual triangular ridge join?
A. Oblique ridge
B. Transverse ridge
C. Marginal ridge
D. Cingulum
Rationale: The transverse ridge is formed by the union of facial and lingual triangular ridges.
13. How many cusps does a mandibular first molar typically have?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
Rationale: The mandibular first molar typically has five cusps: mesiobuccal, distobuccal, mesiolingual,
distolingual, and distal.
, ESTUDYR
14. What is the major difference between first and second molars?
A. Number of roots
B. Number of cusps
C. Presence of oblique ridges
D. Size of the crown
Rationale: First molars typically have more cusps than second molars.
15. Which statement is true about oblique ridges?
A. Found on both maxillary and mandibular molars
B. Only maxillary molars have oblique ridges
C. Only mandibular molars have oblique ridges
D. Found on premolars
Rationale: Oblique ridges are unique to maxillary molars, connecting the mesiolingual and distobuccal
cusps.
16. What surfaces are included in the term "facial surfaces"?
A. Labial and lingual
B. Labial and buccal
C. Buccal and lingual
D. Occlusal and incisal
Rationale: Facial surfaces include both labial (anterior) and buccal (posterior) surfaces.
17. What are elevated crests of enamel that form the mesial and distal margins of the occlusal surface
called?
A. Cusps
B. Marginal ridges
C. Transverse ridges
D. Oblique ridges
Rationale: Marginal ridges form the mesial and distal borders of the occlusal surface.
18. What makes up the bulk of a tooth?
