CRDTS Dental flashcards

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

Maximum lidocaine dose

Lidocaine 2% with 1:100,000 epinephrine has a maximum dose of 7 mg/kg, capped near 500 mg. For a 70 kg adult this is about 13 cartridges of 1.8 mL.

Maximum articaine dose

Articaine 4% with epinephrine is limited to 7 mg/kg, approximately 500 mg absolute. It is avoided in patients with sulfite sensitivity and used cautiously for inferior alveolar blocks due to paresthesia reports.

Periodontal probing depth threshold

Probing depths of 1–3 mm are healthy; 4 mm or more with bleeding on probing indicates periodontal involvement requiring monitoring, non-surgical therapy, or referral.

Bleeding on probing meaning

Bleeding on probing reflects active gingival inflammation and predicts periodontal disease progression. Its absence is a stronger indicator of stability than probing depth alone.

Clinical attachment level

Clinical attachment level equals probing depth plus recession, measured from the cementoenamel junction. It quantifies historical attachment loss rather than current inflammation.

DMFT index components

DMFT counts decayed, missing due to caries, and filled permanent teeth. The lowercase dmft applies to primary teeth, where exfoliated teeth are excluded.

Caries risk assessment inputs

Risk assessment combines caries experience, plaque and bleeding scores, sugar frequency, fluoride exposure, salivary flow, medication-induced xerostomia, and restoration failure history.

Rubber dam indications

Rubber dam isolation is indicated for endodontic treatment, adhesive dentistry, amalgam removal, and any procedure needing a dry, uncontaminated field or airway protection.

Bitewing radiograph purpose

Bitewing radiographs show crowns and crestal bone of posterior teeth, detecting interproximal caries and bone loss. They are not used to evaluate periapical pathology.

Periapical radiograph indication

Periapical views show the full tooth and surrounding bone, indicated for suspected periapical pathology, endodontic treatment, trauma, and assessment of root morphology.

ALARA principle

ALARA means keeping radiation exposure as low as reasonably achievable. It drives selection criteria, rectangular collimation, digital receptors, and avoiding routine screening radiographs.

Valid consent elements

Valid consent requires capacity, sufficient information on diagnosis, options, risks, and alternatives, freedom from coercion, and documentation, ideally obtained before the appointment.

Anaphylaxis management dose

Anaphylaxis in dental settings is treated with epinephrine 1:1,000, 0.3–0.5 mg intramuscularly into the anterolateral thigh, repeated every 5 minutes as needed, plus oxygen and emergency services.

Syncope management sequence

For vasovagal syncope, place the patient supine with legs elevated, loosen tight clothing, ensure airway patency, give oxygen, monitor vital signs, and check blood glucose if recovery is delayed.

Hand hygiene moments

Hand hygiene is performed before patient contact, before aseptic tasks, after body fluid exposure risk, after patient contact, and after touching patient surroundings.

Sharps injury immediate action

After a sharps injury, encourage bleeding, wash with soap and water without scrubbing, report immediately, and seek post-exposure prophylaxis assessment within hours.

OSCE station structure

Each OSCE station presents a scenario, a defined task, a time limit, and a structured rubric scored by checklist items plus a global rating of overall performance.

Structured oral answer format

Answer with the diagnosis first, supporting findings second, management plan third, and follow-up or safety-net advice last. This order matches most marking rubrics.

Differential diagnosis ordering

Order differentials by likelihood and by severity, always naming at least one serious condition that must be excluded, such as malignancy or spreading infection.

Complete drug answer

A complete prescribing answer states the drug name, dose, route, frequency, and duration, plus relevant cautions. Partial answers lose rubric points even when the drug is correct.

Inferior alveolar nerve block target

The inferior alveolar nerve block deposits solution near the mandibular foramen in the pterygomandibular space, with the needle directed toward the contralateral premolars.

Maxillary sinus relationship

The maxillary sinus floor lies close to the apices of maxillary posterior teeth. Periapical pathology or extraction can create an oroantral communication requiring closure.

Radiographic interpretation sequence

Assess image quality and coverage first, then hard tissues, periodontal ligament space and lamina dura, restorations, and finally incidental findings before concluding.

Four ethical principles

The four principles are patient autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. Oral exam answers should link decisions explicitly to these principles and to professional standards.

Scope of practice answer

When a scenario exceeds competence, the correct answer is to recognize the limit, stabilize the patient, and refer appropriately with documentation and communication to the receiving clinician.

OSCE time allocation

Spend about one fifth of station time reading and planning, three fifths delivering the structured answer, and one fifth summarizing and inviting examiner questions.

Red flag in oral exam

A red flag is a finding requiring urgent action, such as dysphagia, trismus, floor-of-mouth swelling, fever, or unexplained ulceration lasting over three weeks.

Trismus measurement

Trismus is reduced mouth opening, typically interincisal distance under 35 mm. It suggests infection, trauma, temporomandibular disorder, or malignancy and warrants investigation.

Odontogenic infection spread

Mandibular molar infections can spread to the submandibular and sublingual spaces, forming Ludwig angina when bilateral. Airway compromise requires urgent referral.

Pulp sensibility testing

Thermal and electric pulp tests assess nerve response, not blood supply. A negative response in a traumatized tooth may reflect transient neurapraxia rather than necrosis.

Periodontal referral threshold

Refer when there is stage III or IV periodontitis, probing depths of 6 mm or more with attachment loss, furcation involvement, or inadequate response to initial therapy.

Documentation in oral stations

State what you would record: findings, diagnosis, options discussed, consent, materials, and follow-up. Examiners award marks for explicit documentation statements.