PERIO FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Which of the following tissues is NOT part of the periodontium?
a. Periodontal ligament
b. Gingiva
c. Cementum
d. Alveolar mucosa - Answer -d. Alveolar mucosa
During mastication, the tooth is cushioned from occlusal forces by the:
a. Periodontal ligament
b. Gingiva
c. Cementum
d. Alveolar bone - Answer -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 - Answer -c. Cementum
**ON TEST**
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 - Answer -b. Interdental gingiva
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 - Answer -b. Sulcular epithelium
All of the following statements about keratinization are true EXCEPT:
a. Keratinized epithelial cells have no nuclei
b. The heaviest keratinized epithelium of the body is 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 - Answer -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 - Answer -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 - Answer -c. It unites free gingiva with
cementum
The ends of periodontal ligament fibers that embed in bone and cementum are known
as:
a. Interradicular fibers
b. Sharpey fibers
c. Rete pegs
d. Endpoint fibers - Answer -b. Sharpey fibers
Nerve supply to the periodontium is derived from branches of the _____________
nerve.
a. Transseptal
b. Trigeminal
c. Facial
d. glossopharyngeal - Answer -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 - Answer -a. Alveolar bone proper
The depth of a clinically normal gingival sulcus is no greater than:
a. 1 mm
b. 3mm
c. 5mm
d. 7mm - Answer -b. 3mm
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 - Answer -b. Desmosome
The sequence of events that occurs during the development of periodontal disease is
termed:
a. Pathogenesis
b. Coronal migration of the junctional epithelium
c. Infrabony pocket formation
d. Histology - Answer -a. Pathogenesis
A patient exhibits a bacterial infection of all parts of the periodontium. Which of the
following is the state of her periodontium?
a. Health
b. Gingivitis
c. Pathogenesis
d. Periodontitis - Answer -d. Periodontitis
A patient exhibits swollen, red gingival tissues with no bone loss. The hygienist records
"periodontal disease" in the patient chart. Is this notation accurate?
a. No, because this patient has gingivitis, not periodontal disease
b. No, because there is no bone loss so this cannot be periodontal disease
c. No, since the patient has no bone loss the periodontium is healthy
, d. Yes, because gingivitis is a periodontal disease - Answer -d. Yes, because gingivitis
is a periodontal disease
Your patient has not been to the dentist in 2 years. When examining the gingival
tissues, you note that the gingival margin is swollen and covers the gingival third of the
tooth crowns. In addition, there is marginal redness with slight bleeding on probing.
Probing depths range from 1 to 4 mm. There is no bone loss present. How would you
label the state of this patient's periodontium?
a. Healthy, considering it has been 2 years since the patient's last maintenance visit
b. Gingivitis
c. Early periodontitis because some probing depths were over 3 mm
d. There is not enough information to make a determination - Answer -b. Gingivitis
All of the following are characteristics of periodontitis EXCEPT:
a. In periodontitis, the gingival margin does not adapt closely to the tooth
b. Interdental papillae may not fill the embrasure spaces if the patient has periodontitis
c. With periodontitis, there may be bleeding upon gentle probing
d. The tissue damage in periodontitis is reversible---the body can repair the damage -
Answer -d. The tissue damage in periodontitis is reversible---the body can repair the
damage
A patient's gingival margin is at the cementoenamel junction. There is no bleeding upon
probing. Microscopically, the junctional epithelium is apical to the cementoenamel
junction on cementum. Which of the following is the state of his periodontium?
a. Health
b. Gingivitis
c. Alveolar necrosis
d. Periodontitis - Answer -d. Periodontitis
Which type of bone loss creates infrabony pockets?
a. Interdental bone loss
b. Horizontal bone loss
c. Vertical bone loss
d. Circumferential bone loss - Answer -c. Vertical bone loss
The difference between a gingival pocket and a periodontal pocket is that:
a. A gingival pocket is a result of gingival enlargement, and a periodontal pocket is a
result of apical migration of junctional epithelium and alveolar bone loss
b. A gingival pocket does not have exudate, and periodontal pocket exhibit exudate
c. A gingival pocket occurs when there is horizontal bone loss, and a periodontal pocket
occurs when there is vertical bone loss
Which of the following tissues is NOT part of the periodontium?
a. Periodontal ligament
b. Gingiva
c. Cementum
d. Alveolar mucosa - Answer -d. Alveolar mucosa
During mastication, the tooth is cushioned from occlusal forces by the:
a. Periodontal ligament
b. Gingiva
c. Cementum
d. Alveolar bone - Answer -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 - Answer -c. Cementum
**ON TEST**
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 - Answer -b. Interdental gingiva
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 - Answer -b. Sulcular epithelium
All of the following statements about keratinization are true EXCEPT:
a. Keratinized epithelial cells have no nuclei
b. The heaviest keratinized epithelium of the body is 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 - Answer -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 - Answer -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 - Answer -c. It unites free gingiva with
cementum
The ends of periodontal ligament fibers that embed in bone and cementum are known
as:
a. Interradicular fibers
b. Sharpey fibers
c. Rete pegs
d. Endpoint fibers - Answer -b. Sharpey fibers
Nerve supply to the periodontium is derived from branches of the _____________
nerve.
a. Transseptal
b. Trigeminal
c. Facial
d. glossopharyngeal - Answer -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 - Answer -a. Alveolar bone proper
The depth of a clinically normal gingival sulcus is no greater than:
a. 1 mm
b. 3mm
c. 5mm
d. 7mm - Answer -b. 3mm
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 - Answer -b. Desmosome
The sequence of events that occurs during the development of periodontal disease is
termed:
a. Pathogenesis
b. Coronal migration of the junctional epithelium
c. Infrabony pocket formation
d. Histology - Answer -a. Pathogenesis
A patient exhibits a bacterial infection of all parts of the periodontium. Which of the
following is the state of her periodontium?
a. Health
b. Gingivitis
c. Pathogenesis
d. Periodontitis - Answer -d. Periodontitis
A patient exhibits swollen, red gingival tissues with no bone loss. The hygienist records
"periodontal disease" in the patient chart. Is this notation accurate?
a. No, because this patient has gingivitis, not periodontal disease
b. No, because there is no bone loss so this cannot be periodontal disease
c. No, since the patient has no bone loss the periodontium is healthy
, d. Yes, because gingivitis is a periodontal disease - Answer -d. Yes, because gingivitis
is a periodontal disease
Your patient has not been to the dentist in 2 years. When examining the gingival
tissues, you note that the gingival margin is swollen and covers the gingival third of the
tooth crowns. In addition, there is marginal redness with slight bleeding on probing.
Probing depths range from 1 to 4 mm. There is no bone loss present. How would you
label the state of this patient's periodontium?
a. Healthy, considering it has been 2 years since the patient's last maintenance visit
b. Gingivitis
c. Early periodontitis because some probing depths were over 3 mm
d. There is not enough information to make a determination - Answer -b. Gingivitis
All of the following are characteristics of periodontitis EXCEPT:
a. In periodontitis, the gingival margin does not adapt closely to the tooth
b. Interdental papillae may not fill the embrasure spaces if the patient has periodontitis
c. With periodontitis, there may be bleeding upon gentle probing
d. The tissue damage in periodontitis is reversible---the body can repair the damage -
Answer -d. The tissue damage in periodontitis is reversible---the body can repair the
damage
A patient's gingival margin is at the cementoenamel junction. There is no bleeding upon
probing. Microscopically, the junctional epithelium is apical to the cementoenamel
junction on cementum. Which of the following is the state of his periodontium?
a. Health
b. Gingivitis
c. Alveolar necrosis
d. Periodontitis - Answer -d. Periodontitis
Which type of bone loss creates infrabony pockets?
a. Interdental bone loss
b. Horizontal bone loss
c. Vertical bone loss
d. Circumferential bone loss - Answer -c. Vertical bone loss
The difference between a gingival pocket and a periodontal pocket is that:
a. A gingival pocket is a result of gingival enlargement, and a periodontal pocket is a
result of apical migration of junctional epithelium and alveolar bone loss
b. A gingival pocket does not have exudate, and periodontal pocket exhibit exudate
c. A gingival pocket occurs when there is horizontal bone loss, and a periodontal pocket
occurs when there is vertical bone loss
