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OSCE Dental Hygiene Questions and Correct
Answers
Bass Method Ans: — Most widely used method. Bristles are angled
at a 45 degree angel towards the gingiva.
Stillman's Method Ans: — Bristles are positioned on the gums
rather than into the pockets and directed at a 45 degree angle.
Charter's Method Ans: — Bristles are directed occlusally, away
from the gingiva. Useful for cleaning orthodontic brackets,
prosthesis, and areas treated with surgeries.
Fone's Method Ans: — Bristles are moved in large circular motion
on the buccal and lingual surfaces. Useful for children, those
physically impaired, or adults who lack manual dexterity.
Fluoride Varnish Ans: — -Dries immediately upon contact with
saliva.
-Does not require a professional prophylaxis before hand.
-Can eat and drink immediately after.
-Avoid brushing, rigorous rinsing, or hard foods for 3 to 4 hours.
-Easier and more effective method
Fluoride is recommended for patients who: Ans: — -Have
xerostomia
-High caries risk
-Undergoing cancer therapy
-Orthodontics
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, 2 | Page
Fluoride Gel or Foam (office application) Ans: — -Applied onto tray
and placed in patient's mouth usually for 4 minutes (Read
manufactures label).
-Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 30 minutes.
-Most popular types are 1.23% APF and 2% Neutral sodium
fluoride.
Stannous Fluoride Ans: — -0.4% available for non-prescription use.
-1% neutral sodium fluoride gels available for prescription use.
-Can cause extrinsic staining (especially in patient's with
inadequate plaque control).
Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride (APF) Ans: — -Do NOT use of
composites, porcelain, or sealant materials as it causing pitting
and roughening.
-Also avoid on root surfaces.
Neutral Sodium Fluoride Ans: — Agent of choice on root caries,
implants, cosmetic restorations, and reduced salivary flow.
Second trimester Ans: — safest trimester for dental treatment.
Pregnancy gingivitis Ans: — -Caused by an elevation of hormones
estrogen and progesterone. Hormones increase can cause
exaggerated gingival response to microorganisms.
Pyrogenic granuloma (Pregnancy tumor) Ans: — localized area of
gingival enlargement, typically involving interdental papilla,
usually diminishes after delivery of baby.
What category of LA can use administer to a pregnant patient?
Ans: — Category B (lidocaine and prilocaine)
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Can you use Nitrous oxide sedation and general sedation on a
pregnant patient? Ans: — relative contraindication (gas interferes
with the absorption of B-12 and other nutrients).
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) index Ans: — -presence of 1 or more
areas of decay on a child younger than 6 years of age
Severe-Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) index Ans: — -Presence of
decay in a child younger than 3 years old.
When should a child's first dental appointment occur? Ans: — -
Within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or before 1-year
of age.
When should you first start brushing a child's teeth? Ans: — -
When the first tooth appears.
Erosion causes Ans: — -Anorexia Nervosa
-Bulimia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa Ans: — extreme weight loss caused by self-
starvation, excessive exercise, use of laxatives, self-induced
vomiting.
Bulimia Nervosa Ans: — compulsive disorder that involves periods
of starvation, binging, and purging.
Signs and Symptoms of erosion Ans: — -dental caries from
vomiting
-Perimolysis: erosion from vomiting mostly on the maxillary
lingual surfaces. Raised appearance of restoration margins.
Abrasion Ans: — -V-shaped notch in the gingival portion of the
facial aspect of the tooth.
-Results from forces of friction between the teeth or external
objects.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
-Can happen from improper brushing technique or the use of a
toothpick or pipe.
Attrition Ans: — -Results from forces between the teeth.
-Wear on the incised and occlusal surfaces from grinding.
Abfraction Ans: — -Biomechanical destruction related to fatigue,
flexure, and deformation of tooth structure.
-Can appear as a wedge-shaped lesion at the cervical third of the
tooth.
What is the most effective public health measure to prevent tooth
decay? Ans: — Community Water Fluoridation
New recommended level of fluoride is? Ans: — 0.7 ppm
Old level of fluoride is? Ans: — 0.7-1.2 ppm
HIV can cause: Ans: — -Linear gingival erythema
-Kaposi Sarcoma
-Delayed healing
-Larger than usual ulcers
-Candidiasis
-Etc.
Diabetes can cause: Ans: — -Delayed healing
-Periodontal disease
-Candidiasis
-Etc.
© 2025 All rights reserved
OSCE Dental Hygiene Questions and Correct
Answers
Bass Method Ans: — Most widely used method. Bristles are angled
at a 45 degree angel towards the gingiva.
Stillman's Method Ans: — Bristles are positioned on the gums
rather than into the pockets and directed at a 45 degree angle.
Charter's Method Ans: — Bristles are directed occlusally, away
from the gingiva. Useful for cleaning orthodontic brackets,
prosthesis, and areas treated with surgeries.
Fone's Method Ans: — Bristles are moved in large circular motion
on the buccal and lingual surfaces. Useful for children, those
physically impaired, or adults who lack manual dexterity.
Fluoride Varnish Ans: — -Dries immediately upon contact with
saliva.
-Does not require a professional prophylaxis before hand.
-Can eat and drink immediately after.
-Avoid brushing, rigorous rinsing, or hard foods for 3 to 4 hours.
-Easier and more effective method
Fluoride is recommended for patients who: Ans: — -Have
xerostomia
-High caries risk
-Undergoing cancer therapy
-Orthodontics
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
Fluoride Gel or Foam (office application) Ans: — -Applied onto tray
and placed in patient's mouth usually for 4 minutes (Read
manufactures label).
-Do not eat, drink, or smoke for 30 minutes.
-Most popular types are 1.23% APF and 2% Neutral sodium
fluoride.
Stannous Fluoride Ans: — -0.4% available for non-prescription use.
-1% neutral sodium fluoride gels available for prescription use.
-Can cause extrinsic staining (especially in patient's with
inadequate plaque control).
Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride (APF) Ans: — -Do NOT use of
composites, porcelain, or sealant materials as it causing pitting
and roughening.
-Also avoid on root surfaces.
Neutral Sodium Fluoride Ans: — Agent of choice on root caries,
implants, cosmetic restorations, and reduced salivary flow.
Second trimester Ans: — safest trimester for dental treatment.
Pregnancy gingivitis Ans: — -Caused by an elevation of hormones
estrogen and progesterone. Hormones increase can cause
exaggerated gingival response to microorganisms.
Pyrogenic granuloma (Pregnancy tumor) Ans: — localized area of
gingival enlargement, typically involving interdental papilla,
usually diminishes after delivery of baby.
What category of LA can use administer to a pregnant patient?
Ans: — Category B (lidocaine and prilocaine)
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Can you use Nitrous oxide sedation and general sedation on a
pregnant patient? Ans: — relative contraindication (gas interferes
with the absorption of B-12 and other nutrients).
Early Childhood Caries (ECC) index Ans: — -presence of 1 or more
areas of decay on a child younger than 6 years of age
Severe-Early Childhood Caries (S-ECC) index Ans: — -Presence of
decay in a child younger than 3 years old.
When should a child's first dental appointment occur? Ans: — -
Within 6 months of the eruption of the first tooth or before 1-year
of age.
When should you first start brushing a child's teeth? Ans: — -
When the first tooth appears.
Erosion causes Ans: — -Anorexia Nervosa
-Bulimia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa Ans: — extreme weight loss caused by self-
starvation, excessive exercise, use of laxatives, self-induced
vomiting.
Bulimia Nervosa Ans: — compulsive disorder that involves periods
of starvation, binging, and purging.
Signs and Symptoms of erosion Ans: — -dental caries from
vomiting
-Perimolysis: erosion from vomiting mostly on the maxillary
lingual surfaces. Raised appearance of restoration margins.
Abrasion Ans: — -V-shaped notch in the gingival portion of the
facial aspect of the tooth.
-Results from forces of friction between the teeth or external
objects.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
-Can happen from improper brushing technique or the use of a
toothpick or pipe.
Attrition Ans: — -Results from forces between the teeth.
-Wear on the incised and occlusal surfaces from grinding.
Abfraction Ans: — -Biomechanical destruction related to fatigue,
flexure, and deformation of tooth structure.
-Can appear as a wedge-shaped lesion at the cervical third of the
tooth.
What is the most effective public health measure to prevent tooth
decay? Ans: — Community Water Fluoridation
New recommended level of fluoride is? Ans: — 0.7 ppm
Old level of fluoride is? Ans: — 0.7-1.2 ppm
HIV can cause: Ans: — -Linear gingival erythema
-Kaposi Sarcoma
-Delayed healing
-Larger than usual ulcers
-Candidiasis
-Etc.
Diabetes can cause: Ans: — -Delayed healing
-Periodontal disease
-Candidiasis
-Etc.
© 2025 All rights reserved
