Blog

You and your classmates are participating with a dental screening event at a local health fair for immigrant and refugee families that have recently relocated to central Ohio. As part of this screening, you are using your magnification loupes and headlight, and have access to shepherd hooks explorers, periodontal explorers, probes and mirrors. On any willing participate, you are completing a head and neck oral cancer screening, an abbreviated PSR screening using one tooth in each sextant, and identifying any clinical visible areas that you are suspicious of decay. You chart all of this information and present a summary form and referral to the OSU dental clinic for each of the participants. QUESTION: What classification(s) of decay is/are seen on #9 (gingival) and #10 (proximal), respectively?

CASE STUDY #3: You are seeing a patient for a  4 month periodontal maintenance appointment.  She had full periodontal charting 10 months ago and bitewing radiographs taken then.  She reports that she was diagnosed with diabetes and she’s having a hard time managing it so far.  When you look in the mouth to begin your charting, you see that there has been some gingival changes and that her probe depths are deeper than at her last appointment.  You also take some photos and show the patient the changes that you are seeing. Use this information to answer the next 5 questions.  QUESTION: All of the following would be marked on her periodontal charting for today, EXCEPT:

CASE STUDY #2: You are seeing a new patient and are completing their periodontal and caries charting in AxiUm.  After completing the charting, you are discussing your findings with the dental hygiene and dental faculty clinic instructors.  The patient has several areas of concern, both periodontally and restoratively, so you have a lot to discuss.  Remember that you will need to use the appropriate professional dental terminology in your discussion to demonstrate your knowledge.  Use this scenario to answer the next 5 questions. QUESTION: What classification would you chart when you detect mobility on teeth that move 1mm or less horizontally?

You have to buy a book for this class.

Which patient has a contraindication to coronal polishing?

CASE STUDY #2: You are seeing a new patient and are completing their periodontal and caries charting in AxiUm.  After completing the charting, you are discussing your findings with the dental hygiene and dental faculty clinic instructors.  The patient has several areas of concern, both periodontally and restoratively, so you have a lot to discuss.  Remember that you will need to use the appropriate professional dental terminology in your discussion to demonstrate your knowledge.  Use this scenario to answer the next 5 questions. QUESTION: A tooth that can be moved 2mm with static mobility and is also depressible is given what classification?

On your new patient you are using the light, explorers and radiographic images to determine where there are restorations, check the restorations for areas of decay and to determine where there is calculus to remove.  On tooth #30 there is an area where there is a gap between the tooth and the amalgam that you can stick the explorer in.  On tooth #18, there is excessive amalgam material that extends into the proximal embrasure space.  You feel vibrations that indicate that there is calculus on many of proximal surfaces, you estimate about 25% of the surfaces total.  One of the patient’s chief complaints for today is that his bridge fell out and he brought it with him in hopes it could be re-cemented. QUESTION: According to what is seen in this photo, what teeth make up his fixed partial denture and which tooth/teeth is/are the pontic(s)–(notice the reflection underneath to see inside the crowns)?

CASE #2: You are seeing a patient who is has recently finished chemotherapy and radiation treatment for cancer. They have not had a dental visit for two years and in completing your assessments, you are seeing several areas of decay. You take bitewing radiographs and two anterior periapical radiographs and determine that they have areas on the posterior proximal surfaces, at the margins of two crowns and fillings on #3 and #31, and on the proximal surfaces of #10 and #11. Use this information to answer the following questions: QUESTION: Which of the following will be detected with an explorer as decay causes a space between the tooth and the crown on #3?

Your patient presents with these areas of discoloration on their teeth. You are charting your restorative findings to present to the dentist and creating your plan for completing their prophylaxis at the next appointment. Use this information to answer the next 4 questions. QUESTION: Which instrument would not be used to scale 2-3mm probe depths on the proximals of the molars?

CASE #4: Your new patient presents with a chief complaint of “I want to get established as a patient and I think I may have some gum issues going on”. During the health history and dental history, the patient reports high blood pressure and diabetes that he takes medications for and that he is a current daily cigarette and e-cigarette/vaping user.  He used to have regular dental hygiene appointments, but has not been in a dental office since the COVID pandemic started in 2020. During the head and neck exam you identify that they have a white and yellow lesion on their side of their tongue, 3 teeth that appear to have decay and gingiva that is swollen, red, and blunted. When you ask about the tongue, the patient says that it has been there for about a month and has not healed. During the periodontal and clinical examination you detect 4-6mm probe depths on all of the posterior teeth, furcation involvement on several molars and generalized bleeding. Use this information to answer the following questions: QUESTION: Which specialist would be asked to look at the lesion on the tongue and is there a charge for this consult at the College of Dentistry?