Dental Hygienist Practice Test – Assessing Patient Characteristics

Pyrexia (or fever), is an increase in body temperature exceeding 37.5 ° C (99.1 ° F) but less than 41.0 ° C (105.8 ° F). It is indicative of an active infection. Hence, to avoid transmission of infectious agents, patients should not be treated in the clinical setting when fever is present.

Palpation is a method of examination using the sense of touch (i.e. via hands or fingers) to obtain useful diagnostic information.

Category ASA I is defined as “a healthy patient without systemic disease”.

Vasovagal syncope (or fainting) is the most common dental emergency situation, which may be triggered by anxiety, emotional distress and dental fears.

In line with the most recent guidelines, it is prescribed that the measurement of blood pressure in children older than age 3 years is appropriate when presenting at any health care facility. A suitable sized cuff accommodating the child’s arm size should be used.

When an individual suffers a type I hypersensitivity reaction, this condition is known as an anaphylactic shock in which blood pressure falls.

Prehypertension readings measure between 120/80 mm Hg to less than 139/89 mm

When assessing respiration, a patient’s pulse rate is not evaluated at the same time.

Out of these procedures, ultrasonic scaling will have the most impact on the airway due to the water lavage produced.

Elevated temperature in children commonly indicates development of a contagious ‘childhood related illness’ (i.e chickenpox, mumps, measles), in which elevation of body temperature is an initial symptom. In order to limit the scope for further exposure to others, best course of action would call for immediate referral to a physician for further medical evaluation.

In accordance with the cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) guidelines, it is recommended that that the pulse should be taken from the carotid artery during a medical emergency.

Smoking is linked to periodontitis as a risk factor and NOT T2DM.

Delay of treatment is NOT recommended unless patients BP measurements are 180/110 mm Hg or greater.

Weight is not a factor used in statistical calculations for categories such as normal, prehypertension, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension.

The scalp behind the ear drains into the retroauricular lymph nodes

In order to ascertain whether abnormal nodes are present, they must be pressed against hard surfaces. From the options provided, only the rolling of the node over the inferior border of the mandible allows for this technique.

Since patients are usually unaware of having enlarged lymph nodes, medical history therefore, will not reveal the presence of cysts or lymphadenopathy.

Boils and cysts are linked to Staphylococcus aureus – a common skin microorganism.

The alignment of incisors is used to ascertain the possibility of occlusal misalignment and not to examine the TMJ.

Periodontal disease is a multifactorial disease, which has no relation to xerostomia (dry mouth).