MDCG Dental Exam flashcards

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

Trigeminal nerve divisions

CN V has ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2), and mandibular (V3) divisions; V3 is the only division carrying motor fibers, supplying the muscles of mastication.

Facial nerve exit

CN VII exits the skull through the stylomastoid foramen and divides within the parotid gland into temporal, zygomatic, buccal, marginal mandibular, and cervical branches.

Lingual nerve function

The lingual nerve carries general sensation from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue and chorda tympani fibers for taste; it lies anterior and medial to the inferior alveolar nerve.

TMJ disc compartments

The temporomandibular joint has a fibrocartilaginous disc dividing it into upper and lower compartments; the lower performs rotation and the upper performs translation during opening.

Enamel composition

Enamel is about 96% mineral by weight, formed by ameloblasts, acellular, and incapable of regeneration; its structural units are rods and interrod enamel.

Dentin composition

Dentin is roughly 70% mineral, 20% organic (mostly type I collagen), and 10% water; it is formed by odontoblasts that leave dentinal tubules as they retreat.

Tooth development stages

The dental lamina appears around 6 weeks in utero, followed by bud stage at 8 weeks, cap stage at 9-10 weeks, and bell stage at 11-12 weeks.

Permanent eruption sequence

Permanent teeth erupt in this order: first molar at 6 years, central incisor at 7, lateral incisor at 8, first premolar at 10, second premolar at 11, canine at 11-12, second molar at 12.

Leukoplakia definition

Leukoplakia is a clinical diagnosis of a white patch that cannot be characterized as any other disease; dysplasia is confirmed only by histology and increases malignant transformation risk.

Ameloblastoma features

Ameloblastoma is a locally aggressive odontogenic tumor of the posterior mandible, often showing multilocular soap-bubble radiolucency; treatment is resection with margins.

Radicular cyst origin

A radicular cyst is inflammatory, arises from epithelial rests of Malassez at the apex of a non-vital tooth, and is the most common odontogenic cyst overall.

Oral lichen planus

Oral lichen planus shows Wickham striae, a band-like lymphocytic infiltrate, and basal cell liquefaction degeneration; it carries a small malignant transformation risk and requires chronic management.

Red complex bacteria

Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola form the red complex, which is strongly associated with periodontitis.

Dental unit waterline limit

Dental unit waterlines must meet a limit of 500 CFU/mL or less of heterotrophic bacteria; flushing, independent reservoirs, and filters control biofilm.

Autoclave biological indicator

Sterilization by autoclave is validated with biological indicators using Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores; chemical indicators are used for each load.

Needlestick transmission risk

Percutaneous exposure risk is highest for hepatitis B (up to 30% with HBeAg-positive blood), about 3% for hepatitis C, and about 0.3% for HIV.

Lidocaine maximum dose

Lidocaine 2% with 1:100,000 epinephrine has a maximum dose of 7 mg/kg; plain lidocaine is limited to 4.4 mg/kg.

Articaine cartridge content

A 1.8 mL cartridge of articaine 4% with 1:100,000 epinephrine contains 72 mg of articaine; the maximum dose is 7 mg/kg.

Amoxicillin dosing

Amoxicillin is first-line for odontogenic infection at 500 mg every 8 hours or 875 mg every 12 hours; penicillin allergy alternatives include clindamycin and azithromycin.

Chlorhexidine substantivity

Chlorhexidine 0.12-0.2% is a cationic bisbiguanide that binds oral tissues with about 12 hours of substantivity; side effects include staining and taste alteration.

Working length reference

Root canal working length is typically 0.5-1.0 mm short of the radiographic apex, with the apical constriction as the reference point for obturation.

Irrigant functions

Sodium hypochlorite at 0.5-5.25% dissolves organic tissue and is antimicrobial; EDTA at 17% removes the smear layer and chelates calcium.

MB2 canal frequency

The mesiobuccal root of the maxillary first molar frequently has two canals, MB1 and MB2; C-shaped canals are most common in mandibular second molars.

Probing depth versus attachment

Probing depth is measured from the gingival margin to the sulcus base; clinical attachment level is measured from the cementoenamel junction to the sulcus base.

Periodontal staging and grading

The 2018 classification uses stages I-IV for severity and complexity and grades A, B, C for rate of progression; grade C reflects rapid progression.

Furcation classification

Glickman furcation involvement is graded I-IV; grade IV indicates through-and-through involvement with gingival recession.

Inferior alveolar block target

The inferior alveolar nerve block targets 6-10 mm above the occlusal plane and 1 mm above the lingula, using the coronoid notch and pterygomandibular raphe as landmarks.

Ludwig's angina

Ludwig's angina is a bilateral submandibular, submental, and sublingual cellulitis; it is a surgical emergency requiring airway assessment and incision and drainage.

Angle Class II definition

In an Angle Class II molar relationship, the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar occludes mesial to the buccal groove of the mandibular first molar.

Leeway space

Leeway space is the difference in mesiodistal width between primary canines and molars and their permanent successors, about 1.5 mm per side in the mandible.

Ferrule effect

A ferrule of at least 1.5-2 mm of circumferential dentin above the crown margin improves resistance to fracture in endodontically treated teeth.

Abutment taper

Abutment preparation taper of 6-10 degrees provides optimal retention and resistance form for fixed prosthodontics.

ALARA principle

ALARA means as low as reasonably achievable and governs radiation dose optimization through collimation, filtration, and digital sensors.

Cone-beam CT indication

Cone-beam CT provides three-dimensional imaging at a lower dose than medical CT and is indicated for implant planning, impacted teeth, and complex endodontics.

Negligence elements

Negligence requires four elements: duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and damages; all four must be established.

Informed consent elements

Informed consent requires disclosure of diagnosis, proposed treatment, alternatives, risks, and consequences, documented before treatment begins.