ORAL PATHOLOGY FOR THE DENTAL
HYGIENIST FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
⩥ Anaplastic means the tumor:
a. is composed of cells that vary in size and shape
b. has cells with darker nuclei than those of normal cells
c. has cells that exhibit an increased nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio
d. does not resemble the tissue from which it was derived. Answer: d.
does not resemble the tissue from which it was derived
⩥ A benign tumor of bone is called a(n):
a. osteoma
b. osteogenic sarcoma
c. chondroma
d. carcinoma. Answer: a. osteoma
⩥ A papilloma is a ___tumor derived from ___ epithelium
a. benign; salivary gland
,b. malignant; squamous
c. benign; squamous
d. malignant; odontogenic. Answer: c. benign; squamous
⩥ Most cases of papilloma occur on the:
a. hard palate
b. buccal mucosa
c. soft palate of tongue
d. retromolar area. Answer: c. soft palate of tongue
⩥ Idiopathic leukoplakia:
a. is a malignant lesion of the oral mucosa
b. can be rubbed off with gauze squares
c. is caused by direct irritation, as in tobacco pouch keratosis
d. does not have a specific known cause. Answer: d. does not have a
specific known cause
⩥ An intraoral mucosal lesion that shows a mixture of red and white
areas is generally called:
, a. erythroplakia
b. speckled erythroplakia
c. speckled leukoplakia
d. leukoplakia. Answer: c. speckled leukoplakia
⩥ Which of the following statements about erythroplakias is true?
a. most cases of erythroplakia occur on the buccal mucosa and vestibule
b. erythroplakia is more common than leukoplakia
c. when examined microscopically, 90% of cases of erythroplakia
demonstrate epithelial dysplasia or squamous cell carcinoma
d. erythroplakia is considered a less serious clinical finding than
leukoplakia. Answer: c. when examined microscopically, 90% of cases
of erythroplakia demonstrate epithelial dysplasia or squamous cell
carcinoma
⩥ Which of the following statements about epithelial dysplasia is true?
a. it is considered a malignant condition.
b. unlike squamous cell carcinoma, cellular changes in epithelial
dysplasia may revert to normal if the stimulus, such as tobacco smoking,
is removed
c. it presents clinically as an erythematous lesion and not a white lesion
(leukoplakia)
HYGIENIST FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPLETE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
⩥ Anaplastic means the tumor:
a. is composed of cells that vary in size and shape
b. has cells with darker nuclei than those of normal cells
c. has cells that exhibit an increased nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio
d. does not resemble the tissue from which it was derived. Answer: d.
does not resemble the tissue from which it was derived
⩥ A benign tumor of bone is called a(n):
a. osteoma
b. osteogenic sarcoma
c. chondroma
d. carcinoma. Answer: a. osteoma
⩥ A papilloma is a ___tumor derived from ___ epithelium
a. benign; salivary gland
,b. malignant; squamous
c. benign; squamous
d. malignant; odontogenic. Answer: c. benign; squamous
⩥ Most cases of papilloma occur on the:
a. hard palate
b. buccal mucosa
c. soft palate of tongue
d. retromolar area. Answer: c. soft palate of tongue
⩥ Idiopathic leukoplakia:
a. is a malignant lesion of the oral mucosa
b. can be rubbed off with gauze squares
c. is caused by direct irritation, as in tobacco pouch keratosis
d. does not have a specific known cause. Answer: d. does not have a
specific known cause
⩥ An intraoral mucosal lesion that shows a mixture of red and white
areas is generally called:
, a. erythroplakia
b. speckled erythroplakia
c. speckled leukoplakia
d. leukoplakia. Answer: c. speckled leukoplakia
⩥ Which of the following statements about erythroplakias is true?
a. most cases of erythroplakia occur on the buccal mucosa and vestibule
b. erythroplakia is more common than leukoplakia
c. when examined microscopically, 90% of cases of erythroplakia
demonstrate epithelial dysplasia or squamous cell carcinoma
d. erythroplakia is considered a less serious clinical finding than
leukoplakia. Answer: c. when examined microscopically, 90% of cases
of erythroplakia demonstrate epithelial dysplasia or squamous cell
carcinoma
⩥ Which of the following statements about epithelial dysplasia is true?
a. it is considered a malignant condition.
b. unlike squamous cell carcinoma, cellular changes in epithelial
dysplasia may revert to normal if the stimulus, such as tobacco smoking,
is removed
c. it presents clinically as an erythematous lesion and not a white lesion
(leukoplakia)
