NURS502 Final - Smiles for Life UPDATED ACTUAL Questions and
CORRECT Answers
1. What is Early Childhood Caries? 2. Microbial imbalance causing chronic disease
1. Dental caries in children from Early Childhood Caries is a chronic microbial imbalance
2-10 years of age that affects the primary teeth of children under age six.
2. Microbial imbalance causing ECC is not caused by lack of or excessive ingestion of
chronic disease fluoride.
3. Deformities in a child's teeth
caused by excessive fluoride inges-
tion during tooth formation
4. Dental decay caused by a lack of
fluoride in a child's diet
2. Oral bacteria and dietary sugars 1. The enamel and dentin of teeth are vulnerable to
are two of the three parts of the demineralization
"Etiology Triad" of Early Childhood
Caries. What is the third part of the Dental caries is a biofilm‐mediated, carbohydrate‐driv-
triad? en, multifactorial, dynamic disease that results in the
imbalance of demineralization and remineralization of
1. The enamel and dentin of teeth dental tissues. Acid produced by bacteria demineralizes
are vulnerable to demineralization the tooth enamel. If the cycle of acid production and
2. Bacterial toxins attach to the demineralization continues, the enamel will become
teeth's calcium matrix weakened and break down into a cavity.
3. Saliva provides a moist environ-
ment for growth of cariogenic (cav-
ity-causing) oral bacteria
4. Genetic predisposition to over-
growth of cariogenic (cavity-caus-
ing) oral bacteria
3. What is a risk factor for developing 4. Dental caries in siblings or caretakers
Early Childhood Caries?
Caregivers or siblings with high bacteria levels is a risk
, 1. High fat diet factor for early childhood caries as family members can
2. A patient's age transmit cariogenic bacteria vertically or horizontally.
3. Excessive levels of fluoride
4. Dental caries in siblings or care-
takers
4. How can primary care clini- 1. Counsel caregivers about the child's diet
cians help prevent Early Childhood
Caries? Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits and
veggies- at least 5 servings each day and limit foods
1. Counsel caregivers about the high in sugar, including fruit juices.
child's diet
2. Apply dental sealants to the teeth
of young patients
3. Prescribe fluoride to every young
patient
4. Refer children to a dentist at age
five
5. The mother of your 10-month-old 2. Test the well's fluoride level prior to prescribing a
patient asks about a prescription dietary fluoride supplement
for supplemental fluoride. She re-
ports that the family obtains their The content of fluoride in well water varies, so individual
water from a well. What is your best well water should be tested before prescribing dietary
course of action? fluoride supplements. This decision is not based on the
presence or absence of dental caries on examination.
1. Prescribe a dietary fluoride sup-
plement as well water does not
contain fluoride
2. Test the well's fluoride level pri-
or to prescribing a dietary fluoride
supplement
, 3. Do not prescribe a dietary flu-
oride supplement as the child has
neither white spots or caries
4. Obtain the fluoride level in wells
near the family's home from the lo-
cal health department before pre-
scribing a dietary fluoride supple-
ment
6. What is the first step in perform- 2. Have the caregiver hold the child facing him or her in
ing a knee-to-knee examination of a straddle position
a child's mouth?
The first step is for the caregiver to hold the child facing
1. Have the caregiver hold the child the caregiver in a straddle position. Next, the child will
on his or her lap facing the examin- lean back onto the examiner's lap while caregiver holds
er the child's hands. The provider can then perform the
2. Have the caregiver hold the child clinical exam and apply fluoride varnish while caregiver
facing him or her in a straddle po- holds child's hands and legs.
sition
3. The examiner looks in the child's
mouth
4. Have the caregiver separate the
child's jaws
7. What guidance about teething 4. A child who is teething may be fussy
should a primary care clinician pro-
vide to a toddler's caregiver? Children who are teething may be fussy. Guidance can
be given to apply cold teething ring or cloth to gums.
1. Teething can cause ear infections Teething gels should be avoided as they are not effective
and diarrhea. and contain topical anesthetics (benzocaine) which can
2. The caregiver should bring the be dangerous in infants, including triggering methe-
toddler to the office if the child moglobinemia.
CORRECT Answers
1. What is Early Childhood Caries? 2. Microbial imbalance causing chronic disease
1. Dental caries in children from Early Childhood Caries is a chronic microbial imbalance
2-10 years of age that affects the primary teeth of children under age six.
2. Microbial imbalance causing ECC is not caused by lack of or excessive ingestion of
chronic disease fluoride.
3. Deformities in a child's teeth
caused by excessive fluoride inges-
tion during tooth formation
4. Dental decay caused by a lack of
fluoride in a child's diet
2. Oral bacteria and dietary sugars 1. The enamel and dentin of teeth are vulnerable to
are two of the three parts of the demineralization
"Etiology Triad" of Early Childhood
Caries. What is the third part of the Dental caries is a biofilm‐mediated, carbohydrate‐driv-
triad? en, multifactorial, dynamic disease that results in the
imbalance of demineralization and remineralization of
1. The enamel and dentin of teeth dental tissues. Acid produced by bacteria demineralizes
are vulnerable to demineralization the tooth enamel. If the cycle of acid production and
2. Bacterial toxins attach to the demineralization continues, the enamel will become
teeth's calcium matrix weakened and break down into a cavity.
3. Saliva provides a moist environ-
ment for growth of cariogenic (cav-
ity-causing) oral bacteria
4. Genetic predisposition to over-
growth of cariogenic (cavity-caus-
ing) oral bacteria
3. What is a risk factor for developing 4. Dental caries in siblings or caretakers
Early Childhood Caries?
Caregivers or siblings with high bacteria levels is a risk
, 1. High fat diet factor for early childhood caries as family members can
2. A patient's age transmit cariogenic bacteria vertically or horizontally.
3. Excessive levels of fluoride
4. Dental caries in siblings or care-
takers
4. How can primary care clini- 1. Counsel caregivers about the child's diet
cians help prevent Early Childhood
Caries? Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits and
veggies- at least 5 servings each day and limit foods
1. Counsel caregivers about the high in sugar, including fruit juices.
child's diet
2. Apply dental sealants to the teeth
of young patients
3. Prescribe fluoride to every young
patient
4. Refer children to a dentist at age
five
5. The mother of your 10-month-old 2. Test the well's fluoride level prior to prescribing a
patient asks about a prescription dietary fluoride supplement
for supplemental fluoride. She re-
ports that the family obtains their The content of fluoride in well water varies, so individual
water from a well. What is your best well water should be tested before prescribing dietary
course of action? fluoride supplements. This decision is not based on the
presence or absence of dental caries on examination.
1. Prescribe a dietary fluoride sup-
plement as well water does not
contain fluoride
2. Test the well's fluoride level pri-
or to prescribing a dietary fluoride
supplement
, 3. Do not prescribe a dietary flu-
oride supplement as the child has
neither white spots or caries
4. Obtain the fluoride level in wells
near the family's home from the lo-
cal health department before pre-
scribing a dietary fluoride supple-
ment
6. What is the first step in perform- 2. Have the caregiver hold the child facing him or her in
ing a knee-to-knee examination of a straddle position
a child's mouth?
The first step is for the caregiver to hold the child facing
1. Have the caregiver hold the child the caregiver in a straddle position. Next, the child will
on his or her lap facing the examin- lean back onto the examiner's lap while caregiver holds
er the child's hands. The provider can then perform the
2. Have the caregiver hold the child clinical exam and apply fluoride varnish while caregiver
facing him or her in a straddle po- holds child's hands and legs.
sition
3. The examiner looks in the child's
mouth
4. Have the caregiver separate the
child's jaws
7. What guidance about teething 4. A child who is teething may be fussy
should a primary care clinician pro-
vide to a toddler's caregiver? Children who are teething may be fussy. Guidance can
be given to apply cold teething ring or cloth to gums.
1. Teething can cause ear infections Teething gels should be avoided as they are not effective
and diarrhea. and contain topical anesthetics (benzocaine) which can
2. The caregiver should bring the be dangerous in infants, including triggering methe-
toddler to the office if the child moglobinemia.
