A. Dental Health in Pets

1. Periodontal Disease is:

1. The most common disease found in dogs and cats
2. Caused by not removing stains and calculus off the teeth
3. Not associated with other organ disease
4. Often diagnosed in its early stages

2. When scaling with an ultrasonic scaler:

1. firm pressure is required to remove calculus
2. the tip remains quite cool without the need for water
3. only the side of the tip of the instrument is used in light, sweeping strokes across the tooth surface
4. the instrument should be used continuously on each tooth for a minimum time of sixty (60) seconds to ensure the tooth is clean

3. In diagnosing periodontal disease, which instrument is the MOST useful?

1. ultrasonic scaler
2. dental explorer
3. periodontal probe
4. periodontal curette

4. What is the MOST common mistake made in the treatment of periodontal disease?

1. inadequate removal of supragingival calculus
2. not using prophylaxis paste after scaling the teeth
3. inadequate subgingival scaling and root debridement
4. not using systemic antibiotics after a dental prophylaxis

5. Periodontal disease is caused by:

1. dental caries
2. plaque, a soft bacterial biofilm that attaches to the tooth surface
3. gram negative aerobic bacteria
4. the cause of periodontal disease is unknown 

6. When treating periodontitis, saving as many teeth as possible should be a priority:

1. Only if the owner is committed to continuing homecare and dental rechecks
2. In any patient younger than five (5) years of age
3. If the patient is a brachycephalic breed
4. In all patients regardless of age, breed and owner commitment to dental home care and repeat dental examinations, as dental scaling and polishing will protect the teeth for many years to follow.

7. Homecare recommendations may include:

1. Weekly tooth-brushing
2. The use of clinically proven dental diets
3. Annual veterinary check-ups for periodontitis
4. The regular use of antibiotics to control plaque  

8. With respect to dental diets:

1. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal is only awarded to foods that contain chemicals proven to kill plaque bacteria
2. Enhanced mechanical removal of plaque can be achieved by altering the physical structure of the food
3. Bones are more effective at removing plaque and calculus than any commercial diet currently available
4. They can only be fed as a treat once or twice per week as there are none that are balanced to meet the nutritional needs of adult dogs and cats

B. Veterinary dental radiology

1. The diagnostic tools used to demonstrate oral pathology include:

1. Periodontal probe
2. Intraoral and extra oral radiographs
3. dental explorer
4. all of the above

2. The bisecting angle technique for dental radiographs:

1. Is only used for taking extra oral radiographs
2. Greatly magnifies the image onto the film
3. Can only be used successfully in the caudal mandible
4. Bisects the angle made between the dental film and the X-ray tube
5. None of the above  

3. The parallel technique for dental radiographs:

1. Can only be used successfully in the rostral mandible
2. Is performed by aiming the x-ray beam parallel to the film
3. Requires less radiation exposure than the bisecting angle technique
4. None of the above

4. With respect to dental film:

1. The two most commonly used sizes of dental film in veterinary dentistry are size 2 and size 4 films
2. It can only be used inside the oral cavity
3. It is similar to standard cassette type film
4. It has a lead foil facing the X-ray tube

5. Dental X-ray units

1. Require a film focal distance of 100cm
2. Have variable KVp, Ma and exposure time
3. Allow both vertical and horizontal angulation of the x-ray tube
4. Need large amounts of radiation to produce an image

C. Local anaesthesia techniques

1. With respect to local anaesthetic nerve blocks of the oral cavity, which statement is MOST correct?

1. Oral local anaesthetic nerve blocks are best administered prior to commencing an extraction (preemptive analgesia)
2. Lignocaine HCl is not very effective as a local anaesthetic agent for oral nerve blocks due to its short duration of action
3. The nerve supply to the pulp of the tooth can be desensitised by depositing local anaesthetic agents into the marginal gingival tissue surrounding the tooth (ring block)
4. Fine needles such as 25-27 gauge should be avoided due to the risk of breakage

2. Which of the following local nerve blocks can be used to reliably desensitise the second maxillary molar?

1. Mental nerve block
2. Maxillary nerve block
3. Infraorbital nerve block
4. Either b or c

3. When performing an infraorbital nerve block:

1. The needle should not be inserted into the infraorbital canal due to the risk of iatrogenic damage to the infraorbital nerves and blood vessels
2. The bone on the palatal side of the ipsilateral maxillary canine tooth is desensitised
3. Finger pressure should be applied over the infraorbital foramen to allow caudal diffusion of the local anaesthetic agent
4. All maxillary teeth on the ipsilateral side, except for the incisors, are desensitised

4. With respect to the mandibular nerve block, which of the following statement(s) are correct?

1. The aim is to deposit the local anaesthetic agent into the mandibular canal via the mandibular foramen
2. All teeth in the ipsilateral lower arcade are desensitised
3. The mandibular foramen is on the lateral side of the ramus of the mandible at the level of the mandibular notch
4. Both b and c

5. When performing a maxillary nerve block:

1. The maxillary nerve is targeted in the region of the pterygopalatine fossa
2. A separate palatine nerve block is required to ensure desensitisation of the hard palate for surgical extraction of the maxillary fourth premolar tooth
3. It is important to draw back on the syringe prior to injecting the local anaesthetic agent to ensure the needle has not entered any blood vessels
4. Both a and c

D. Simple and Surgical tooth extractions

1. When extracting a tooth of a pet:

1. One must have prior permission from the owner before the extraction is performed
2. The periodontal ligament is severed around the entire circumference of the tooth
3. One must use as much rotational force as possible when using the dental elevator
4. Both a and b

2. Before suturing your mucoperiosteal flap closed

1. Check the apex of the tooth to make certain that the tooth root hasn’t fractured
2. Smooth over any rough bony edges
3. Check the alveolar socket for any debris
4. Flush the alveolar socket with sterile saline
5. All of the above

3. Which of the following statement(s) are correct?

1. A tooth with a necrotic pulp should be extracted if the owner declines root canal therapy
2. One should leave plaque and calculus (tartar) on the tooth to be extracted
3. A periosteal releasing incision is only required for mucoperiosteal flaps that are associated with multi-rooted tooth extractions
4. A mucoperiosteal flap needs a narrow base to preserve the blood supply to the flap

4. When surgically extracting a canine tooth:

1. Bone removal to the apex of the tooth is essential
2. The use of a slow speed handpiece and appropriate bur must be used for bone removal
3. The mucoperiosteal flap incisions are made directly over the canine tooth root
4. An iatrogenic oronasal communication may occur

5. When extracting a tooth:

1. Extraction forceps are used at the start of the extraction procedure to loosen the tooth within the alveolar socket
2. A periosteal elevator is used to stretch and tear the periodontal ligament
3. Finger stops are used with the dental elevator to minimize injury to both the patient and operator
4. All of the above

When you have finished the quiz, send the quiz with our answers to Dr Aaron Forsayeth via email (aaron@puppydentist.com), or post it to:

AVDS Open Up DVD Quiz
c/o Shop 8/195 Vienna Road
Alexandra Hills
Q 4161