ADC Written (Dental Therapy) flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Scope of practice

The range of roles, functions, and procedures a dental therapist is educated, competent, and authorized to perform under jurisdictional law and supervision or collaborative agreement.

Caries risk assessment

A structured evaluation of factors (diet, fluoride, saliva, bacteria, history) to categorize a patient's risk and guide preventive and recall intervals.

Informed consent

A patient's voluntary agreement after receiving and understanding information about diagnosis, proposed treatment, risks, benefits, alternatives, and consequences of no treatment.

Fluoride varnish

A 5% sodium fluoride topical agent applied to teeth to prevent caries; reduces incidence by about 30–40% and is indicated for high-risk patients.

Silver diamine fluoride

A 38% topical solution that arrests active dentinal caries and reduces sensitivity; it stains carious lesions black and is useful for high-risk or uncooperative patients.

Critical pH for enamel

The pH at which enamel begins to demineralize, approximately 5.5; below this, hydroxyapatite dissolves and caries can progress.

Periodontitis

An inflammatory disease of the periodontium causing attachment loss, pocket formation, and alveolar bone loss; unlike gingivitis, it is not fully reversible.

Mandatory reporting

A legal duty to report suspected child abuse or neglect, elder abuse, or specified communicable diseases to designated authorities, overriding usual confidentiality.

Cultural safety

An approach that acknowledges power imbalances and historical trauma and ensures care respects the patient's cultural identity, values, and rights.

Motivational interviewing

A collaborative, person-centered counselling style that strengthens a patient's own motivation and commitment to behavior change, such as smoking cessation or diet improvement.

Pit and fissure sealants

Resin or glass ionomer materials placed in deep occlusal pits and fissures to prevent caries; retention should be checked at recall visits.

ICDAS

The International Caries Detection and Assessment System, a visual-tactile scoring method that classifies caries severity from 0 (sound) to 6 (extensive dentinal caries).

Pulpitis

Inflammation of the dental pulp; reversible pulpitis causes provoked pain, while irreversible pulpitis causes spontaneous or lingering pain and requires pulpectomy or extraction.

Lidocaine maximum dose

For 2% lidocaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine, the maximum recommended dose is 4.4 mg/kg (7 mg/kg with epinephrine) or about 300 mg for a healthy adult.

Antibiotic prophylaxis

Preoperative antibiotics given to patients with specified cardiac conditions (e.g., prosthetic valve, prior endocarditis) before invasive dental procedures to prevent infective endocarditis.

Cariogenic bacteria

Microorganisms such as Streptococcus mutans and lactobacilli that ferment sugars to acids and contribute to dental caries.

Periodontal pathogens

Bacteria associated with periodontitis, including Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia, often called the red complex.

Saliva buffering

The ability of saliva, mainly via bicarbonate, to neutralize acids and protect teeth; reduced buffering capacity increases caries risk.

Standard precautions

Infection control practices applied to all patients, including hand hygiene, PPE, safe sharps handling, and sterilization of critical instruments.

Recall interval

The risk-based time between dental visits; commonly 12–24 months for low-risk, 6–12 months for moderate, and 3–6 months for high-risk patients.

Referral triggers

Clinical situations requiring referral, such as lesions beyond scope, uncontrolled medical conditions, suspected pathology, complex trauma, or behavior needing specialist management.

Common Risk Factor Approach

A health promotion strategy targeting shared risk factors (diet, tobacco, alcohol, hygiene, injuries) to prevent oral and systemic non-communicable diseases simultaneously.

Professional boundaries

Limits that protect the therapeutic relationship, including avoiding dual relationships, managing conflicts of interest, and maintaining appropriate physical and emotional distance.

Confidentiality

The ethical and legal duty to protect patient information, disclosing only with consent or when required by law, such as for suspected abuse or court order.

Ethical principles

Core principles guiding dental practice: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, veracity, and fidelity.

Record keeping

Maintaining accurate, contemporaneous, legible, and secure patient records that document consent, findings, treatment, and referrals, and are retained per legal requirements.

Enamel composition

Enamel is about 96% hydroxyapatite mineral by weight, making it the hardest tissue but susceptible to acid demineralization.

Dentin composition

Dentin is approximately 70% mineral, 20% organic (mostly collagen), and 10% water, and it contains tubules that transmit stimuli.

Gingivitis

Reversible inflammation of the gingiva caused by plaque biofilm, characterized by redness, swelling, and bleeding on probing without attachment loss.

Wound healing

Tissue repair that may occur by primary intention (clean, apposed wound) or secondary intention (infected or gaping wound); healing is impaired by diabetes, smoking, and steroids.

Health equity

Fair access to care for all patients, achieved through interpreters, culturally appropriate resources, and trauma-informed communication to reduce barriers.

PSR/BPE

The Periodontal Screening and Recording or Basic Periodontal Examination, a rapid screening tool that scores sextants to guide periodontal referral and treatment.