PERIODONTOLOGY EXAM 6 | DENTAL
HYGIENIST | LATEST 2025-2026 QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION
WEST COAST UNIVERSITY
1. A hospital clinic receives a 67-year-old diabetic smoker with
uncontrolled periodontitis, facial swelling, and fever. What is the MOST
appropriate first action?
A. Schedule elective SRP in 2 weeks
B. Immediate emergency infection control and medical referral
C. Whitening for esthetics improvement
D. Routine maintenance cleaning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Systemic signs (fever + swelling) indicate spreading infection
requiring urgent intervention.
2. A patient presents with generalized Stage IV periodontitis and
uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c 11%). What is the MOST critical factor
affecting prognosis?
A. Tooth color
B. Glycemic control
C. Saliva flow rate
D. Plaque staining
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Poor glycemic control severely impairs healing and disease
control.
3. A smoker with 30-year history presents with deep pockets but minimal
bleeding. What is the MOST dangerous interpretation risk?
A. Overestimating health
B. Underestimating disease severity
C. Misdiagnosing caries
D. Overdiagnosing gingivitis
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Smoking masks clinical inflammation leading to false stability
assumptions.
4. A patient shows rapid periodontal destruction within 6 months despite
good hygiene. What is the MOST likely driver?
A. Poor brushing
B. Host immune dysfunction
C. Excess fluoride
D. High saliva buffering
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aggressive progression indicates host susceptibility.
5. A patient presents with furcation involvement, mobility, and vertical
bone loss. What stage is MOST likely?
A. Stage II
B. Stage III
C. Stage I
D. Gingivitis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Complex defects without terminal dentition = Stage III.
6. A patient refuses periodontal surgery despite 7 mm pockets. What is
the BEST management?
A. Discharge
B. Non-surgical therapy + strict maintenance
C. Immediate extraction
D. Whitening
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Conservative structured maintenance is appropriate when
surgery is refused.
, 7. A patient presents with localized abscess and fever. What is the MOST
appropriate intervention?
A. Delay treatment
B. Drainage + possible antibiotics
C. Whitening
D. No treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Systemic involvement requires immediate infection control.
8. A diabetic patient shows poor healing after SRP. What is the MOST
likely cause?
A. Excess fluoride
B. Impaired immune response
C. Tooth color
D. High saliva flow
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes impairs immune and wound healing response.
9. A patient presents with generalized recession but no inflammation.
What is MOST likely?
A. Active infection
B. Mechanical trauma
C. Abscess
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma leads to recession without inflammatory signs.
10. A smoker shows severe bone loss but minimal bleeding. What is
MOST appropriate interpretation?
A. Healthy tissue
B. Masked periodontal disease
HYGIENIST | LATEST 2025-2026 QUESTION AND
CORRECT ANSWER WITH EXPLANATION
WEST COAST UNIVERSITY
1. A hospital clinic receives a 67-year-old diabetic smoker with
uncontrolled periodontitis, facial swelling, and fever. What is the MOST
appropriate first action?
A. Schedule elective SRP in 2 weeks
B. Immediate emergency infection control and medical referral
C. Whitening for esthetics improvement
D. Routine maintenance cleaning
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Systemic signs (fever + swelling) indicate spreading infection
requiring urgent intervention.
2. A patient presents with generalized Stage IV periodontitis and
uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c 11%). What is the MOST critical factor
affecting prognosis?
A. Tooth color
B. Glycemic control
C. Saliva flow rate
D. Plaque staining
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Poor glycemic control severely impairs healing and disease
control.
3. A smoker with 30-year history presents with deep pockets but minimal
bleeding. What is the MOST dangerous interpretation risk?
A. Overestimating health
B. Underestimating disease severity
C. Misdiagnosing caries
D. Overdiagnosing gingivitis
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Smoking masks clinical inflammation leading to false stability
assumptions.
4. A patient shows rapid periodontal destruction within 6 months despite
good hygiene. What is the MOST likely driver?
A. Poor brushing
B. Host immune dysfunction
C. Excess fluoride
D. High saliva buffering
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Aggressive progression indicates host susceptibility.
5. A patient presents with furcation involvement, mobility, and vertical
bone loss. What stage is MOST likely?
A. Stage II
B. Stage III
C. Stage I
D. Gingivitis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Complex defects without terminal dentition = Stage III.
6. A patient refuses periodontal surgery despite 7 mm pockets. What is
the BEST management?
A. Discharge
B. Non-surgical therapy + strict maintenance
C. Immediate extraction
D. Whitening
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Conservative structured maintenance is appropriate when
surgery is refused.
, 7. A patient presents with localized abscess and fever. What is the MOST
appropriate intervention?
A. Delay treatment
B. Drainage + possible antibiotics
C. Whitening
D. No treatment
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Systemic involvement requires immediate infection control.
8. A diabetic patient shows poor healing after SRP. What is the MOST
likely cause?
A. Excess fluoride
B. Impaired immune response
C. Tooth color
D. High saliva flow
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Diabetes impairs immune and wound healing response.
9. A patient presents with generalized recession but no inflammation.
What is MOST likely?
A. Active infection
B. Mechanical trauma
C. Abscess
D. Necrosis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Trauma leads to recession without inflammatory signs.
10. A smoker shows severe bone loss but minimal bleeding. What is
MOST appropriate interpretation?
A. Healthy tissue
B. Masked periodontal disease
