NDHCE flashcards

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

Informed consent

A voluntary agreement by a patient after disclosure of diagnosis, proposed treatment, alternatives, risks, benefits, and the right to refuse; it must be documented in the record.

Four elements of negligence

Duty owed to the patient, breach of that duty, causation linking the breach to harm, and damages; all four must be proven for a malpractice claim.

HIPAA breach notification

Unauthorized acquisition or disclosure of unsecured protected health information; affected individuals generally must be notified within 60 days of discovery.

Direct versus general supervision

Direct supervision requires the dentist on the premises and evaluating the work; general supervision means the dentist is available by phone and not on site.

Mandatory reporting duty

A legal obligation to report suspected child abuse, elder or dependent-adult abuse, and certain communicable diseases to designated authorities, regardless of patient wishes.

Fluoride varnish concentration

5% sodium fluoride varnish contains about 22,600 ppm fluoride and is applied two to four times yearly for patients at moderate to high caries risk.

Community water fluoridation level

Fluoride is adjusted to 0.7 mg/L in drinking water; this population-level measure reduces caries across the lifespan and is cost-saving.

Caries balance concept

Demineralization from fermentable carbohydrate exposure competes with remineralization supported by saliva, calcium, phosphate, and fluoride; net loss causes caries.

Five A's for tobacco cessation

Ask about tobacco use, Advise quitting, Assess willingness, Assist with counseling and pharmacotherapy, and Arrange follow-up to support cessation.

Supine hypotensive syndrome

In later pregnancy, the gravid uterus compresses the inferior vena cava when supine, reducing venous return and blood pressure; position the patient on her side.

ASA physical status

A classification of systemic health: I healthy, II mild disease, III severe disease not incapacitating, IV incapacitating disease; higher classes prompt medical consultation.

Clinical attachment level

A measure of periodontal support calculated as probing depth plus gingival recession; it reflects loss of attachment from the cementoenamel junction.

Bleeding on probing

A sign of active gingival inflammation recorded during periodontal charting; it indicates current disease activity and guides treatment planning and recall intervals.

Normal adult vital signs

Blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg, pulse 60 to 100 beats per minute, respirations 12 to 20 per minute, and oral temperature 36.1 to 37.2 Celsius.

ALARA principle

As Low As Reasonably Achievable; radiographic selection and technique minimize radiation dose while obtaining diagnostic information, avoiding routine fixed-interval exposures.

Dental hygiene diagnosis

A statement of the human needs and oral health problems the hygienist is licensed to treat, derived from assessment data and distinct from the dentist's diagnosis.

SMART care plan goals

Goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound; written as patient outcomes rather than clinician tasks, with target dates for evaluation.

Risk-based recall interval

Recall frequency set by caries and periodontal risk; high-risk patients may need three-month intervals, while low-risk patients can extend to six to twelve months.

Informed refusal documentation

When a patient declines recommended care, record the discussion of risks, benefits, and alternatives, along with the patient's decision and signature when possible.

Scaling and root planing

Definitive nonsurgical periodontal therapy that removes supra- and subgingival deposits and contaminated cementum; often performed by quadrant with local anesthesia.

Curette versus sickle scaler

Curettes have a rounded toe and are used subgingivally for scaling and root planing; sickle scalers have a pointed tip and are limited to supragingival calculus.

APF contraindication

Acidulated phosphate fluoride can etch porcelain, composite, and glass ionomer restorations; use neutral sodium fluoride instead for patients with such restorations.

Chlorhexidine rinse

A 0.12% prescription antiplaque rinse used short-term as an adjunct; it causes staining, taste alteration, and calculus formation with prolonged use.

Sealant indication

Placement on pits and fissures of caries-prone teeth, especially permanent molars, requires isolation and etched enamel for retention and caries prevention.

Host-mediated periodontal destruction

Plaque biofilm triggers an inflammatory host response; tissue breakdown is largely caused by cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases rather than bacteria alone.

Bisphosphonate and MRONJ risk

Antiresorptive drugs inhibit osteoclasts and increase medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw risk after invasive dental care; obtain a drug history before surgery.

Enamel composition

Enamel is about 96% mineral hydroxyapatite with little organic content and no living cells; it cannot regenerate, so remineralization depends on salivary minerals and fluoride.

Xerostomia consequences

Reduced salivary flow impairs buffering and clearance, raising caries and candidiasis risk; common causes include medications, Sjogren syndrome, and head/neck radiation.

Standard precautions

Infection control practices applied to all patients regardless of diagnosis, treating all blood and body fluids as potentially infectious with appropriate barriers and hand hygiene.

Autoclave biological monitoring

Spore tests using biological indicators verify sterilization efficacy and are recommended at least weekly, with records retained for quality assurance.

Sharps injury prevention

Never recap needles by hand; use a one-handed scoop or recapping device and dispose of sharps immediately in puncture-resistant containers.

Incidence versus prevalence

Incidence counts new cases over a period; prevalence counts all existing cases at a point in time; both describe population oral disease burden.