AAPD ORAL BOARD EXAM STUDY GUIDE
2026 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
⩥ What is dental neglect? Answer: WILLFUL failure of parent or
guardian to seek and follow through with treatment necessary to ensure a
level of oral heath essential for adequate function and freedom from pain
and infection.
⩥ Dental disability Answer: orofacial pain, infection, or pathological
condition and/or lack of functional dentition affect nutritional intake,
growth and development, or participation in life activities.
⩥ Medically-necessary care Answer: Reasonable and essential
diagnostic, preventive, and treatment services (including supplies,
appliances, and devices) and follow-up care as determined by qualified
health care providers in treating any condition, disease, injury, or
congenital or developmental malformation to promote optimal health,
growth, and development. MNC includes all supportive health care
services that, in the judgment of the attending dentist, are necessary for
the provision of optimal quality therapeutic and preventive oral care.
These services include, but are not limited to, sedation, general
anesthesia, and utilization of surgical facilities.
,⩥ MNC ____________ the probability of good health and well-being
and ________________ the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome.
Answer: increases, decreases
⩥ Perinatal Answer: 20th week of gestation to 4 weeks post-partum
⩥ Women are more or less susceptible to oral disease? Why? Answer:
More susceptible, due to endocrinological fluctuations during pregnancy.
⩥ Poor oral health is associated with what birth problems? Answer: Low
birthwaeight, growth restriction, preterm delivery, preclampsia, early
pregnancy loss, and intrauterine fetal demise.
⩥ Use of _______ ______ and avoiding tobacco and alcohol is
protective for oral facial clefts? Answer: Folic acid
⩥ Pillow under the ______ hip maintains the uterus off the vena cava
Answer: right
⩥ What analgesics should be avoided during pregnancy? Answer:
Ibuprofen and Naproxen, during 1st and 3rd trimester.
⩥ Can opiods be used during pregnancy? Answer: yes just minimum
effectvie dose as they do cross the placenta
,⩥ What antibiotics should be avoided during pregnancy? Answer:
Erythromycin, tetracycline, fluoroquinolones.
⩥ Infants born via C-section are colonized by S. Mutans
_________________ compared to vaginal births Answer: Earlier
⩥ Teenage pregnancy (11-15) causes the following: Answer: Pregnancy-
induced hypertension (causes increased bleeding during procedures),
anemia, sexually transmissble diseases, and premature delivery
⩥ Mild hypertension Answer: Equal to or greater than 140/90
⩥ Severe hypertension Answer: Greater than or equal to 160/110
⩥ Acute onset, severe hypertension that persists for 15 minutes or more
= Answer: Emergency. Physician should be notified immediately.
⩥ Maternal levels of vitamin ____ may affect primary tooth
development Answer: D
⩥ Approximately ______ percent of pregnant participants reported
persistent xerostomia Answer: Xerostomia
, ⩥ There is an correlation between periodontal disease in prengnant
women and _____________ diabetes Answer: gestational
⩥ Poor plaque control added with hormone changes in pregnancy can
lead to development of what pathology? Answer: Pyogenic Granuloma
⩥ Due to increased risk of fetal hypoxia leading to inreased risk of
pregnancy loss, what should be avoided? Answer: Nitrious Oxide during
the first trimester
⩥ Due to worries regaring merucury, what products should be avoided
during pregnancy? Answer: Tooth whitening products that contain or
generate hydrogen peroxide (releases inorganic mercury from amalgam
fillings)
⩥ What should be done before brushing after vomitting? Answer: Rinse
with a cup of water containing a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate.
⩥ exclusive breastfeeding recommended until Answer: 6-months to a
year or more as mutually desired by mother and infant.
⩥ What percentage of mothers have difficulty with breastfeeding?
Answer: 25-80%
⩥ What percentage of children have ankyloglossia? Answer: 5%
2026 QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
⩥ What is dental neglect? Answer: WILLFUL failure of parent or
guardian to seek and follow through with treatment necessary to ensure a
level of oral heath essential for adequate function and freedom from pain
and infection.
⩥ Dental disability Answer: orofacial pain, infection, or pathological
condition and/or lack of functional dentition affect nutritional intake,
growth and development, or participation in life activities.
⩥ Medically-necessary care Answer: Reasonable and essential
diagnostic, preventive, and treatment services (including supplies,
appliances, and devices) and follow-up care as determined by qualified
health care providers in treating any condition, disease, injury, or
congenital or developmental malformation to promote optimal health,
growth, and development. MNC includes all supportive health care
services that, in the judgment of the attending dentist, are necessary for
the provision of optimal quality therapeutic and preventive oral care.
These services include, but are not limited to, sedation, general
anesthesia, and utilization of surgical facilities.
,⩥ MNC ____________ the probability of good health and well-being
and ________________ the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome.
Answer: increases, decreases
⩥ Perinatal Answer: 20th week of gestation to 4 weeks post-partum
⩥ Women are more or less susceptible to oral disease? Why? Answer:
More susceptible, due to endocrinological fluctuations during pregnancy.
⩥ Poor oral health is associated with what birth problems? Answer: Low
birthwaeight, growth restriction, preterm delivery, preclampsia, early
pregnancy loss, and intrauterine fetal demise.
⩥ Use of _______ ______ and avoiding tobacco and alcohol is
protective for oral facial clefts? Answer: Folic acid
⩥ Pillow under the ______ hip maintains the uterus off the vena cava
Answer: right
⩥ What analgesics should be avoided during pregnancy? Answer:
Ibuprofen and Naproxen, during 1st and 3rd trimester.
⩥ Can opiods be used during pregnancy? Answer: yes just minimum
effectvie dose as they do cross the placenta
,⩥ What antibiotics should be avoided during pregnancy? Answer:
Erythromycin, tetracycline, fluoroquinolones.
⩥ Infants born via C-section are colonized by S. Mutans
_________________ compared to vaginal births Answer: Earlier
⩥ Teenage pregnancy (11-15) causes the following: Answer: Pregnancy-
induced hypertension (causes increased bleeding during procedures),
anemia, sexually transmissble diseases, and premature delivery
⩥ Mild hypertension Answer: Equal to or greater than 140/90
⩥ Severe hypertension Answer: Greater than or equal to 160/110
⩥ Acute onset, severe hypertension that persists for 15 minutes or more
= Answer: Emergency. Physician should be notified immediately.
⩥ Maternal levels of vitamin ____ may affect primary tooth
development Answer: D
⩥ Approximately ______ percent of pregnant participants reported
persistent xerostomia Answer: Xerostomia
, ⩥ There is an correlation between periodontal disease in prengnant
women and _____________ diabetes Answer: gestational
⩥ Poor plaque control added with hormone changes in pregnancy can
lead to development of what pathology? Answer: Pyogenic Granuloma
⩥ Due to increased risk of fetal hypoxia leading to inreased risk of
pregnancy loss, what should be avoided? Answer: Nitrious Oxide during
the first trimester
⩥ Due to worries regaring merucury, what products should be avoided
during pregnancy? Answer: Tooth whitening products that contain or
generate hydrogen peroxide (releases inorganic mercury from amalgam
fillings)
⩥ What should be done before brushing after vomitting? Answer: Rinse
with a cup of water containing a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate.
⩥ exclusive breastfeeding recommended until Answer: 6-months to a
year or more as mutually desired by mother and infant.
⩥ What percentage of mothers have difficulty with breastfeeding?
Answer: 25-80%
⩥ What percentage of children have ankyloglossia? Answer: 5%
