General and Oral Pathology for Dental Hygiene
Practice
Author(s)Myers, Sandra; Curran, Alice
TEST BANK
1.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Patient Assessment and History
Question Stem: A 58-year-old man presents with a 3-week
history of a painless white patch on the lateral tongue that he
first noticed after starting a new medication. Which history
detail is most important to determine before deciding on
biopsy?
A. Whether the lesion blanches on pressure
B. Recent antibiotic or corticosteroid use
C. Duration and timing related to medication start
D. Presence of cervical lymphadenopathy
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct (C): Duration and temporal relationship to the new
medication help determine if the lesion is drug-related,
, transient, or requires biopsy; establishing chronology is key
in clinical reasoning.
• A: Blanching is a physical exam finding, not a historical
detail; it won’t replace chronology for initial decision-
making.
• B: Antibiotic or steroid use can predispose to fungal
lesions, but the pivotal detail is timing relative to the new
medication.
• D: Lymphadenopathy is important for staging/serious
disease but is part of the exam rather than the history
needed to link onset to medication.
Teaching Point: Always document onset and temporal links
between symptoms and recent medications.
Citation: Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral
Pathology for Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Signs and Symptoms
Question Stem: A patient reports “tingling and burning” of the
buccal mucosa without visible lesions on inspection. Which
distinction between sign and symptom guides your next step?
A. Signs are subjective; symptoms are objective findings you
measure.
B. Symptoms require clinician-confirmed signs to proceed with
diagnosis.
,C. Symptoms are patient-reported and may indicate
neuropathic or mucosal disease prior to visible signs.
D. Signs always precede symptoms in oral disease.
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct (C): Symptoms are subjective complaints; burning
sensations can reflect neuropathic pain or early mucosal
change absent on inspection, guiding targeted history and
exam.
• A: Incorrect—signs are objective; symptoms are subjective
(reverse statement).
• B: Symptoms don’t always require confirmed signs to
escalate evaluation; they can prompt further assessment.
• D: Signs do not always precede symptoms; many
conditions cause subjective complaints before visible
changes.
Teaching Point: Treat patient-reported symptoms seriously
even without visible signs.
Citation: Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral
Pathology for Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Head, Neck, and Intraoral Neck
Examinations
Question Stem: During a routine exam you palpate a firm, non-
, tender, unilateral submandibular node in a 65-year-old smoker.
Which action is most appropriate next?
A. Reassure the patient and observe for 6 months
B. Document and schedule a 2-week recheck with focused oral
exam and possible imaging or referral
C. Prescribe a short course of antibiotics empirically
D. Assume reactive node from dental plaque and treat with oral
hygiene instruction only
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): A persistent, firm, unilateral node in an older
smoker warrants prompt re-evaluation within a short
timeframe and consideration of imaging or specialist
referral; timely assessment is crucial.
• A: Waiting 6 months is unsafe given risk factors (age,
smoking); delays can miss malignancy.
• C: Empiric antibiotics without signs of infection is
inappropriate and may mask serious conditions.
• D: Assuming reactive node from plaque ignores history and
risk factors; inadequate management.
Teaching Point: Persistent, firm cervical nodes in high-risk
patients need prompt reassessment and possible referral.
Citation: Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral
Pathology for Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
Practice
Author(s)Myers, Sandra; Curran, Alice
TEST BANK
1.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Patient Assessment and History
Question Stem: A 58-year-old man presents with a 3-week
history of a painless white patch on the lateral tongue that he
first noticed after starting a new medication. Which history
detail is most important to determine before deciding on
biopsy?
A. Whether the lesion blanches on pressure
B. Recent antibiotic or corticosteroid use
C. Duration and timing related to medication start
D. Presence of cervical lymphadenopathy
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct (C): Duration and temporal relationship to the new
medication help determine if the lesion is drug-related,
, transient, or requires biopsy; establishing chronology is key
in clinical reasoning.
• A: Blanching is a physical exam finding, not a historical
detail; it won’t replace chronology for initial decision-
making.
• B: Antibiotic or steroid use can predispose to fungal
lesions, but the pivotal detail is timing relative to the new
medication.
• D: Lymphadenopathy is important for staging/serious
disease but is part of the exam rather than the history
needed to link onset to medication.
Teaching Point: Always document onset and temporal links
between symptoms and recent medications.
Citation: Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral
Pathology for Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Signs and Symptoms
Question Stem: A patient reports “tingling and burning” of the
buccal mucosa without visible lesions on inspection. Which
distinction between sign and symptom guides your next step?
A. Signs are subjective; symptoms are objective findings you
measure.
B. Symptoms require clinician-confirmed signs to proceed with
diagnosis.
,C. Symptoms are patient-reported and may indicate
neuropathic or mucosal disease prior to visible signs.
D. Signs always precede symptoms in oral disease.
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct (C): Symptoms are subjective complaints; burning
sensations can reflect neuropathic pain or early mucosal
change absent on inspection, guiding targeted history and
exam.
• A: Incorrect—signs are objective; symptoms are subjective
(reverse statement).
• B: Symptoms don’t always require confirmed signs to
escalate evaluation; they can prompt further assessment.
• D: Signs do not always precede symptoms; many
conditions cause subjective complaints before visible
changes.
Teaching Point: Treat patient-reported symptoms seriously
even without visible signs.
Citation: Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral
Pathology for Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Head, Neck, and Intraoral Neck
Examinations
Question Stem: During a routine exam you palpate a firm, non-
, tender, unilateral submandibular node in a 65-year-old smoker.
Which action is most appropriate next?
A. Reassure the patient and observe for 6 months
B. Document and schedule a 2-week recheck with focused oral
exam and possible imaging or referral
C. Prescribe a short course of antibiotics empirically
D. Assume reactive node from dental plaque and treat with oral
hygiene instruction only
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct (B): A persistent, firm, unilateral node in an older
smoker warrants prompt re-evaluation within a short
timeframe and consideration of imaging or specialist
referral; timely assessment is crucial.
• A: Waiting 6 months is unsafe given risk factors (age,
smoking); delays can miss malignancy.
• C: Empiric antibiotics without signs of infection is
inappropriate and may mask serious conditions.
• D: Assuming reactive node from plaque ignores history and
risk factors; inadequate management.
Teaching Point: Persistent, firm cervical nodes in high-risk
patients need prompt reassessment and possible referral.
Citation: Myers, S., & Curran, A. (2023). General and Oral
Pathology for Dental Hygiene Practice (3rd Ed.). Ch. 1.
