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A 34 year old female patient requires a bridge to replace t heir missing upper left central incisor.  The rest of her teeth are sound and healthy.  On discussion with the dentist, the patient opts for a bridge which requires little or no preparation and; therefore, causes minimal damage to the other teeth.  From the list below which bridge is the dentist likely to provide?

Fixed cantilever bridge

Fixed-fixed bridge

Fixed moveable bridge

Resin-retained (Maryland) bridge

Spring cantilever bridge

The Professional Conduct Committee of the General Dental Council (GDC) considers whether misconduct amounts to impairment of a registrant’s fitness to practice.  If impairment is found, which one of the following sanctions is outside the GDC’s powers?

Erase from the register

Impose conditions

Issue a fine

Issue a reprimand

Suspend registration

A patient is to have an impacted lower  third molar removed under local anaesthesia as a surgical procedure.  Which nerve is most at risk of damage during this procedure?

Facial Nerve

Lingual Nerve

Posterior superior dental

Mandibular Nerve

Mental Nerve

The General Dental Council (GDC) sets out the ethical and professional principles expected of everyone on their registers.  To which publication would a registered dental nurse  refer to find these principles?

GDC Gazette

Preparing for practice

Scope of Practice

Standards of the dental team

Student professionalism and fitness to practice

You are worried about a four year old who has attended the surgery (you notice that appears to be cigarette burns on the child’s arm  Which practice policy document would you consul for advice in this situation?

Accident reporting policy

Complaints policy

Confidentiality policy

Raising concerns policy

Safeguarding policy

Registered dental nurses are required to comply with the General Dental Council’s (GDC’s) enhanced Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirements.  Each dental nurse registrant must have a personal development plan and record at least 50 hours of verified CPD (vCPD) over a 5 year cycle.  Which one of the following statements is true in this respect?

All 50 vCPD hours can be recorded in just one year of the cycle

Reading a dental journal is recorded a vCPD

The employer is responsible for dental nurse employees vCPD

The GDC quality assures vCPD courses

The GDC quality assures vCPD courses

A patient is having a root canal treatment carried out.  The dentist has asked you to help protect the patient’s airway.  You will need to assist in protecting the airway by passing which of the following?

Cotton roll

Gauze

Oropharyngeal airway

Rubber Dam

Butterfly sponge

A patient attends for the first stage of an endodontic treatment on the upper left  permanent first molar.  The  dentist decides to confirm that the tooth is not vital.  What is the most appropriate option below to confirm tooth vitality?

Phosphoric acid 37%

Ethyl chloride and cotton pellet

Articaine hydrochloride 4% with adrenaline 1:200,000

Periapical radiograph

Trans-illumination

A 27 year old patient attends the for a new patient examination.  During a Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE) the dentist records scores of 4 in each sextant and diagnoses generalised periodontitis.  Which micro-organism is likely to have caused this?

Prevotella Intermedia

Bacillus fusiformis

Candida albicans

Lactobacillus

Streptococcus mutans

Zinc oxide and Eugenol (ZOE) materials have many applications in dentistry.  For which one of the following applications would ZOE  be inappropriate?

Cavity lining

Impression material for full dentures

Porcelain veneer luting cement

Root canal sealant

Sedative temporary restorative material

An adult patient has collapsed in the waiting room of your dental surgery.  The dentist asks you to assist with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) using the emergency bag -valve- mask apparatus to deliver artificial ventilation (“breaths”).  What is the correct routine/ algorithm  you should adopt?

15 compressions, 1 breath

15 compressions, 2 breaths

30 compressions, 2 breaths

30 compressions, 1 breath

30 compressions, 5 breaths

An elderly patient complains of a sore tongue and numerous mouth ulcers.  The dentist suggests the patient may be anaemic.  Anaemia is diagnosed when erythrocytes contain a low level of the protein necessary to transport oxygen around the body.  What protein is this?

Albumin

Fibrinogen

Globulin

Haemoglobin

Insulin

A seven year old patient has a Bluish coloured swelling over an unerupted lower first permanent molar tooth.  The dentist diagnoses an eruption cyst.  What is a cyst?

A breach in the mucosa surface

A collection of pus

A fluid filled sac

A pigmented area

A white patch

A female patient is attending for some stitches (sutures) to close a cut on the upper lip.  The dentist administers the local anaesthetic and the patient reports that her upper lip is starting to tingle.  Which nerve will be responsible for this sensation.

Facial nerve

Infraorbital nerve

Long buccal nerve

Mental nerve

Nasopalatine (long sphenopalatine) nerve

A young adult attends as a new patient.  They are unhappy about chalky white areas of mottled enamel on their permanent incisor teeth present since the teeth erupted.  What is the most likely cause?

ANUG

Angular cheilitis

Fluorosis

Iron supplements

Tetracycline staining

A patient requires a class IV restoration on the upper left permanent lateral incisor.  Select from the list the Zsigmondy-Palmer notation for this tooth:

  |A

|B

|1

11

21

Your patient is accompanied into the surgery by a qualified lip speaker who helps he patient to understand what is said during the appointment.  What special care group does this patient most likely belong to?

Dental Phobic

Hearing impairment

Mobility impairment

Special educational needs

Visual impairment

A patient with xerostomia is at increased risk of developing caries and periodontal disease.  Xerostomia can be caused by radiotherapy and is a side-effect of many drugs.  What is Xerostomia?

Delayed blood clotting

Dry mouth

Gingiva covering a partially erupted lower third molar

Limited mouth opening

Spasm in the facial muscles

You have been asked to change the chemicals in the practice’s automatic X-Ray film processing machine.  There are three tanks and then the drier at the back.  Working from the front (where the unprocessed film is inserted), in what order are the tanks?

Developer - Fixer - Water

Developer – Water -   Fixer

Fixer – Developer – Water

Water – Developer – Fixer

Water – Fixer – Developer

A 28 year old female patient presents for her routine dental check-up.  During the intra-oral examination the dentist asks you for the necessary probe to carry out the basic periodontal examination (BPE).  Which probe should you select?

Briault probe

Sickle probe

Straight probe

Williams’ periodontal probe

World Health Organisation (WHO) probe

A patient attends for this three monthly scale and polish procedure.  Following the treatment, how should the latch-grip polishing brush be managed?

Cleaned and autoclaved

Disposed into domestic waste

Disposed into offensive waste

Disposed into recyclable waste

Disposed into sharps waste

A patient returns to the surgery with a high spot on the surface of an occlusal amalgam restoration that was placed in a premolar two days ago.  When correcting this, which item is the dentist most likely to ask you for?

Amalgam plugger

Burnisher

Interdental finishing strip

Stainless steel finishing bur

Ward’s carver

During periodontal examination, the dentist will carry out a Basic Periodontal Examination (BPE) charting.  The BPE score 2 specifically indicates which of the following?

Bleeding on probing and plaque retention

Furcation involvement

Gingival recession

Pocket depth of up to 5.5 mm

Presence of calculus

A 28 year old patient attends for a routine examination.  The dentist asks you to complete the dental charting.  A large number of restorations are required.  Which of the following risk factors is most likely to be associated with this?

Diabetes

High acidic diet

High protein diet

High sugar diet

Smoking

The mandible forms the lower jaw of the oral cavity.  At which point does it articulate with the temporal bone to form the temporomandibular joint?

Body

Condyle

Lingual

Ramus

Symphysis

The dentist extracts several teeth and asks you to check whether an upper molar is one of the teeth that has been extracted.  You are able to answer yes because you know the anatomy of an upper molar.  Which of the teeth in the diagram is the upper molar?

Tooth A

Tooth B

Tooth C

Tooth D

Tooth E

The General Dental Council (GDC) expects dental nurses to be able to ‘give and receive feedback effectively to and from other members of the team’.  What is the most professional way to respond to critical feedback?

Constructive reaction

Critical reaction

Defensive reaction

Dismissive reaction

Emotional reaction

The dentist has asked you to deliver oral health advice to the mother of an 8 year old patient.  Using resources may help you to clarify the information you are giving.  A diagram showing Stephan’s Curve may be used to depict the effect of which of the following?

Bacterial plaque on oral mucosa

Saliva on calculus deposits

Saliva on sugar

Sugar on bacterial plaque

Sugar on the oral mucosa

A 28 year old patient with no relevant medical history has just had their lower left first permanent molar tooth removed.  This was a difficult procedure where both roots had to be surgically extracted with bone removal and the placement of several sutures (stitches) after the procedure.  Which one of the following signs and symptoms would be of concern in the days following the extraction, so that the patient should contact the practice or out of hours services if they experience it

Discomfort from the stitches

Facial bruising

Prolonged bleeding from the socket

Swollen tissues around the extraction side

Tenderness in the area of the extraction

Any process that removes, kills or deactivates all forms of life, in particular microorganism such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and spores present on or in a specific surface or object’ is a definition of which important infection control process?

Aseptic storage

Disinfection

Sanitation

Sterilisation

Zoning

The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry suggests that ‘”the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic oral health needs, is likely to result in the serious impairment of a child’s oral or general health or development” is a safeguarding concern,  Which issue from the list below is this referring to?

Dental neglect

Emotional abuse

General neglect

Physical abuse

Sexual abuse

In theory, if valid consent is not obtain for a dental procedure and harm occurs to the patient, this could give rise to claim of which offence?

Affray

Assault

Forgery

Fraud

Impersonation

The General Dental Council’s Scope of Practice’ document sets out additional skills for each registrant group.  Registered dental nurses who are trained, competent and indemnified may undertake these additional skills under prescription of other registrants.  Which one of the list is reserved for other registrant groups, and as such must never be carried out by a dental nurse?

Applying topical fluoride

Placing rubber dam

Taking impression

Taking radiographs

Tooth whitening

Saliva is secreted by the salivary glands and is the watery fluid that is naturally present in the healthy oral cavity.  Which one of the following constituents of saliva acts to start the process of breaking down complex carbohydrates?

Amylase enzymes

Immunoglobulins

Inorganic ions

Leucocytes

Water

Any work related accident or incident which results in a person being absent from work for seven days or more should be reported.  To which one of the following organization must such an accident or incident be reported?

Ambulance service

General medical practitioner

Health and Safety Executive

Indemnity provider

Police

An adult patient attends for a mesial occlusal distal amalgam restoration.  After the treatment, you are asked to dispose of the matrix band.  Which receptacle would you use?

Clinical waste

Domestic waste

Offensive waste

Recyclable waste

Sharps waste

A patient attends for an amalgam restoration of the lower right second premolar.  The dentist removes the caries from the tooth and informs  you that there is a pin-point pulpal exposure.  Which material are you most likely to be asked to prepare?

Calcium hydroxide

Glass Ionomer cement

Polycarboxylate cement

Zinc oxide and eugenol cement

Zinc phosphate cement

A 58 year old patient attends the surgery complaining of pain and an ulcer.  The dentist finds that the labial flange of the new partial denture is over extended.  Which item from the list would be most appropriate to select to ease the denture?

Flat fissure bur

Inverted cone (friction grip) diamond bur

Maun’s cutter

Mitchell’s trimmer

Stainless steel acrylic trimming bur

During a tooth extraction, your patient starts to experience breathing problems and you fetch the emergency oxygen cylinder.  The cylinder displays the CLP warning symbol shown.  What does this mean?

Explosive

Flammable

Gas under pressure

Oxidising

Toxic

A patient complains of feeling unwell during treatment.  You notice the face has fallen on one side, they are unable to raise both arms and keep them there and their speech has become slurred.  It is time to dial 999, administer oxygen and monitor the patient until the ambulance arrives.  What medical emergency is this?

Asthma attack

Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)

Epileptic seizure

Hypoglycaemic coma

Myocardial infarction

Patient taking the medication warfarin may require a blood test prior to dental treatment.  What measurement would this blood test reveal?

Blood clotting time

Blood glucose level

Erythrocyte level

Platelet level

White blood cell level

According to document HTM 01-05 and is equivalents, when you have worn full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to assist with a procedure, which item should be removed first?

Face mask

Gloves

Plastic disposable apron

Safety goggles

Visor

A 16 year old patient presents for a routine dental check-up.  On intraoral examination the dentist suspects an interproximal cavity arising at the contact point of the lower left permanent molars.  Which instrument is designed to be used to confirm this diagnosis?

Briault probe

Sickle probe

Straight probe

Williams periodontal probe

World health organisation probe

During a routine examination of an 8  old child, caries is identified in the lower first permanent molars.  Select from the option list the type of bacteria most likely to be associated with the onset of dental caries.

Actinomyces

Bacteroides

Lactobacilli

Staphylococci

Streptococci

Patient is undergoing treatment under inhalation sedation.  There are two different coloured cylinders on the relative analgesia machine.  Identify from the option list the colour of the nitrous oxide cylinder used during this procedure.

Black

Blue

Green

Red

White

The dental therapist is giving an inferior dental nerve block injection.  You have learned that the inferior dental nerve supplies the lower teeth and enters the mandible at the mandibular  foramen.  What structure in front of the mandibular foramen protects the ID nerve from damage?

Body

Condyle

Coronoid process

Ligula

Symphysis

Patients taking certain drugs may be required to have a pre-treatment blood test to determine their INR.  The International Normalised Ratio (INR) is  a test of the pharmacological effectiveness of which group of drugs?

Antibiotics

Anticoagulants

Anti-fungals

Antihistamines

Anti-inflammatories

A 45 year old patient attends for a routine check-up appointment.  The dentist suspects that there may be caries affecting the occlusal and mesial surfaces of  the 6|.  Which radiographic view from the list below would be most appropriate to confirm this diagnosis?

Cephalogram

Periapical

Left Bitewing

Occlusal

Right Bitewing

The permanent dentition normally has eight teeth in each quadrant, assuming none are congenitally missing.  Which one of the following options is a tooth that which arrangement of roots are mesiobuccal, distobuccal and palatal?

LL6

LR5

UR7

UL4

UR5

Several diseases and disorders can affect the structures of the oral cavity so that they cannot perform their normal functions correctly.  Which one of the following options is the term used to describe the condition that causes drooling due to hypersalivation?

Dysphagia

Dysplasia

Xerostomia

Ptyalism

Sore throat

The cranium is made up of  eight bony plates that enclose the brain like a helmet and fit together tightly at the coronoid sutures.  Which one of the following options is the bone that  forms the base of the skull?

Ethmoid

Temporal

Sphenoid

Occipital

Frontal

Many of the bones of the skull contain natural bony openings (foramina/ foramen) to allow the passage of nerves and blood vessels to the  tissues of the head and neck region.  Which one of the following options is the name of the foramen through which the anterior superior alveolar nerve and middle superior alveolar nerve subdivide?

Greater palatine foramen

Incisive foramen

Infraorbital foramen

Supraorbital foramen

Mental foramen

Sodium fluoride is added to dental products to help reduce the risk of dental caries.  Which one of the following options is the recommended level of fluoride (in parts per million – ppm) in fluoride varnish that is applied by the dentist in the dental surgery.

1ppm

1000ppm

1450ppm

500ppm

22600ppm

One area considered during an oral health assessment is the occlusion of the patient’s teeth: the way the teeth bite together and whether this is normal or whether a malocclusion is present,  Which one of the following options is the term used during this assessment to describe a malocclusion where the maxilla is further forward than normal?

Class I

Class II

Class II subdivision 1

Class II subdivision 2

Class III

One area considered during an oral health assessment is the occlusion of the patient’s teeth: the way the teeth bite together and whether this is normal or whether a malocclusion is present,  Which one of the following options is the term used during this assessment where there is a reversed overjet present?

Class I

Class II

Class II subdivision 1

Class II subdivision 2

Class III

The periodontal tissues are those acting as the supporting structures of the teeth, and they are routinely assessed for signs of disease during an oral health assessment.  A basic periodontal examination (BPE) is carried out initially to identify areas requiring further periodontal investigation.  Which one of the following option is the BPE code that indicates a  crevice up to 3.5 mm and presence of calculus?

Code 0

Code 1

Code 2

Code 3

Code 4

Completion of continuing professional development activities is a requirement by the General Dental  Council (GDC) for all registrants.  The previous ’core topics’ are now referred to as ‘highly recommended topics’ and have been identified  by the GDC as relevant to almost all registrant groups. Which one of the following is not a ’highly recommended topic’?

Complaints handling

Safeguarding children and young adults

Legal and ethical issues in dentistry

Dementia awareness

Oral cancer and early detection

The requirement for the dental team to be appropriately trained and qualified is enshrined in the General Dental Council (GDC) Standards document.  Which one of the following options is the specific core ethical principle of professionalism in this document that deals with raising concerns if patient is at risk?

Principle 5

Principle 6

Principle 7

Principle 8

Principle 9

The human dentition consist of a set of both primary and secondary teeth that have no ability to grow once they are fully formed.  Which  part of the upper permanent first molar is the area where the Cusp of Carabelli is found?

Mesio-buccal cusp

Disto-buccal cusp

Mesio-palatal cusp

Disto-palatal cusp

Mesio-lingual cusp

The maxillary sinus also known as Antrum of Highmore is an empty space inside both sides of the maxilla bone.  The following are functions and facts of this sinus with the exception of:

Works as voice box

It is covered by mucus membrane

Lightens the skull

When inflamed it is called sinusitis

Its floor lays above the lower molars

The following is a list of materials used in the construction of dentures. 

For each of the scenarios described below select the ONE most appropriate material.

A 65 year old patient attends the surgery for the first stage in the provision of a partial upper denture.  Which of the materials listed is most likely to be used by the dentist when taking the primary impressions of the patient’s mouth?

Acrylic

Alginate

Chrome cobalt

Green stick composition

Plaster of Paris

Pressure indicating paste

Wax

Zinc oxide and eugenol paste

A 58 year old patient attends for the occlusal registration (bite) stage in the provision of a complete upper denture.  The laboratory technician has constructed the bite rims from which one of the following materials listed?

Acrylic

Alginate

Chrome cobalt

Green stick composition

Plaster of Paris

Pressure indicating paste

Wax

Zinc oxide and eugenol paste

A 65 year old patient attends the surgery for the first stage in the provision of a full upper denture.  Which of the materials listed is most likely to be used by the dentist when taking the second impressions of the patient’s mouth using the special trays?

Acryllic

Alginate

Chrome Cobalt

Green stick composition

Plaster of Paris

Pressure indicating paste

Was

Zinc oxide and eugenol paste

A 65 year old patient is attending for the try-in stage of a complete upper denture.  They are happy with the fit and bite but ask for the teeth to be made a shade lighter.  The dentist indicates this to the technician on the laboratory sheet and asks the technician to return the denture for a retry.  What material are the prosthetic teeth on a denture made from at the try-in (and re-try) stage?

Acrylic

Alginate

Chrome cobalt

Green stick composition

Plaster of paris

Pressure indicating paste

Wax

Zinc oxide and eugenol paste

A 50 year old patient has returned for an examination six months after the fitting of a removable partial denture.  The patient is adamant that their oral hygiene measures are thorough, yet there is significant accumulation of plaque where the denture abuts the natural  teeth.  What is the most appropriate item in the list that would help the patient to see the plaque that is accumulating?

Dental tape

Dental sticks

Denture brush

Disclosing tablets

Electric toothbrush

Fluoride mouthwash

Fluoride tablets

Interspace dental brush

A fully dentate elderly patient has osteoarthritis, which has caused a mobility impairment.  The patient’s manual dexterity has declined so that brushing their teeth effectively using a manual toothbrush has become very difficult for them.   What is the most appropriate item in the list that this patient could use to improve plaque removal?

Dental tape

Dental sticks

Denture bursh

Disclosing tablets

Electric toothbrush

Fluoride mouthwash

Fluoride tablets

Interspace dental brush

The dentist is about to prescribe an antifungal agent for a patient with oral thrush but first double checks that the patient is not taking warfarin.  They are not, so miconazole oral gel is prescribed as an antifungal agent.  Which microorganism in the list is susceptible to the effects of miconazole?

Actinomyces

Bacillus fusiformis

Candida albicans

Herpes simplex

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus salivarius

Varicella zoster

A 22 year old patient attends the surgery complaining of soreness at gingival level and halitosis.  On clinical examination the dentist can see the interdental papilla is  ulcerated and necrotic. Patient is diagnosed with ANUG.  Which microorganism in the list is the found in ANUG?

Actinomyces

Bacillus fusiformis

Candida albicans

Herpes simplex

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus salivarius

Varicella zoster

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common oral cancer which is within the 10 most common cancers worldwide.  Its main signs and symptoms can be from an ulcer that does not heal in three weeks, pain when swallowing and the presence of a lump in the neck.  Which microorganism has been found in oral cancer ulcers?

Actinomyces

Bacillus fusiformis

Candida albicans

Herpes simplex

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus salivarius

Varicella zoster

Lead-in Statement:

For each of the following situations described, select the ONE most appropriate aspect of communication from the option list.

 Following the surgical extraction of the upper left first molar tooth, the dentist asks you to give verbal post-operative instructions to the patient.  You go over the main points verbally.  But the patient is keen to leave and isn’t listening properly.  Which one of the options is the most appropriate additional communication method you should use?

Body language

Eye contact

Facial expression

Models

Posters

Talking

Touching

Written explanations

The dentist is explaining to the patient that they will require a tooth extraction and denture.  You notice that throughout the discussion the patient has their arms folded and legs crossed and that they are leaning away from the dentist.  After the discussion the dentist asks you to make the patient another appointment.  You are not surprised when the patient tells you they  do not want another appointment and are going elsewhere for a second opinion.  What type of communication was the patient exhibiting during the discussion with the dentist?

Body language

Eye contact

Facial expression

Models

Posters

Talking

Touching

Written explanations

Lead-in Statement:

A patient attends for an examination and a charting of their dental health is recorded as follows.

For each treatment described, select the ONE most appropriate answer from the option list.

Each option may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

The patient is experiencing severe pain which commenced approximately four days following the extraction of a tooth.  Th dentist has diagnosed alveolar osteitis.  Which area is the dentist referring to?

Upper right third permanent molar

Upper right second premolar

Upper right permanent canine

Upper left permanent central incisor

Upper left first premolar

Upper left first permanent molar

Lower left third permanent molar

Lower left first premolar

Lower right permanent central incisor

Lower right third permanent molar

The patient has attended the surgery with pericoronitis.  The patient complains of soreness around a partially erupted tooth.  The dentist decides to irrigate this area.  Which tooth requires irrigating?

Upper right third permanent molar

Upper right second premolar

Upper right permanent canine

Upper left permanent central incisor

Upper left first premolar

Upper left first permanent molar

Lower left third permanent molar

Lower left first premolar

Lower right permanent central incisor

Lower right third permanent molar

Lead-in Statement:

A patient attends for an examination and a charting of their dental health is recorded as follows.

For each treatment described, select the ONE most appropriate answer from the option list.

Each option may be used once, more than once, or not at all