HK Dental ORE flashcards

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

Reversible pulpitis

Sharp pain provoked by thermal or osmotic stimulus and resolving promptly on removal of the stimulus, with no spontaneous pain and a vital, normal response to testing.

Irreversible pulpitis

Spontaneous, lingering or poorly localised pain, sometimes waking the patient at night, indicating pulpal inflammation beyond healing capacity and requiring pulp extirpation or extraction.

Infective endocarditis prophylaxis

A single antibiotic dose 30 to 60 minutes before invasive dental work, reserved for highest-risk cardiac patients such as those with prosthetic valves or previous endocarditis.

Lidocaine maximum dose

4.4 mg per kg with vasoconstrictor; a 2 percent solution contains 20 mg per mL, so a 70 kg adult is capped near 308 mg, roughly 15 mL.

Periodontal staging

Interdental clinical attachment loss defines stage: 2 mm or less is stage I, 3 to 4 mm stage II, 5 mm or more stage III, and stage IV adds tooth loss or masticatory dysfunction.

Glass ionomer indication

Preferred on root surfaces and in high caries risk patients because it bonds chemically to tooth structure and releases fluoride, though it is weaker and less aesthetic than composite.

Amalgam vs composite rule

Choose amalgam for high-load posterior contacts with difficult moisture control; choose composite where aesthetics and minimal preparation dominate and isolation is achievable.

Cuspal coverage threshold

A posterior restoration needs cuspal coverage when the isthmus width exceeds one third of the intercuspal distance or remaining cusps are unsupported.

Widened periodontal ligament

A radiolucent widening of the periodontal ligament space beyond the lamina dura, an early radiographic sign of periapical inflammation or occlusal trauma.

Bisphosphonate history

Record bisphosphonate or antiresorptive use and route and duration, because it raises the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw after extractions or bone surgery.

Class II box preparation

The proximal box should extend just beyond the contact, with a flat gingival seat at or slightly above the gingival margin and a butt-joint cavosurface margin free of unsupported enamel.

Rubber dam clamp selection

Match bow size and jaw shape to the tooth: molar clamps have wider jaws and stronger retention, premolar clamps are narrower, and anterior clamps are smaller with reduced force.

Straight-line endodontic access

The bur is aligned with the long axis so the coronal cavity gives an unobstructed path to the canal orifices, reducing instrument separation and shaping error.

Working length determination

Confirm the canal length radiographically with the file 0.5 to 1 mm short of the radiographic apex, cross-checked with an electronic apex locator.

Square knot in suturing

An instrument tie producing two throws in opposite directions so the knot lies flat and does not slip, with wound edges everted and apposed without tension.

Suture removal timing

Oral mucosal sutures are usually removed after 5 to 7 days, once epithelial continuity is established but before the suture track becomes a plaque trap.

Inferior alveolar block target

The pterygomandibular space, approached from the contralateral premolars with the needle at 6 to 10 mm barrel depth; aspirate before depositing anaesthetic.

Border moulding impression

Manipulating the tray or material at the sulcus to record functional depth, ensuring the impression captures the full sulcus and shows no voids or drags.

Finger rest in instrumentation

A stable pivot on adjacent teeth or hard tissue that controls instrument force and prevents slipping, assessed together with indirect vision and clock-face positioning.

Sharps disposal rule

Place needles and blades into the sharps container immediately after use without recapping by hand, and never carry them across the operatory.

SOCRATES pain history

A structured pain assessment covering site, onset, character, radiation, associations, timing, exacerbating factors and severity, used to characterise the presenting complaint.

Lymph node palpation

Systematic palpation of submental, submandibular, parotid, cervical and supraclavicular chains, noting size, consistency, mobility and tenderness of any node.

Two-week ulcer rule

Any oral ulcer or mucosal lesion persisting beyond two weeks without a clear cause must be referred for urgent specialist assessment to exclude malignancy.

BPE score interpretation

Codes 0 to 2 indicate no periodontal treatment need beyond advice; codes 3 and 4 require full periodontal charting and assessment.

Bleeding on probing

A marker of active gingival inflammation recorded at six sites per tooth; its absence in a treated patient is a useful indicator of periodontal stability.

Furcation involvement

Loss of periodontal attachment into the furcation of a multirooted tooth, graded I to III by horizontal and vertical probing depth and radiographic appearance.

Vitality testing purpose

Cold testing and electric pulp testing assess nerve responsiveness to distinguish pulpal from periapical pain; results are compared with adjacent and contralateral teeth.

Interincisal opening

Maximum distance between upper and lower incisal edges, normally around 40 to 50 mm; reduced or deviating opening suggests temporomandibular joint or muscle pathology.

Treatment plan sequence

Manage the emergency first, then disease control including caries and periodontal care, then definitive restorative work, then long-term maintenance with documented consent.

Informed consent in examination

Explaining the examination, its purpose and any discomfort, then obtaining and documenting the patient's agreement before proceeding, as part of professional standards.

Fremitus test

A vibration felt on a tooth when the patient taps the teeth together, indicating occlusal overload and guiding adjustment of the occlusion.

Linea alba

A white horizontal ridge on the buccal mucosa at the occlusal plane, a benign frictional keratosis associated with parafunction and not requiring biopsy.