Test Bank for Darby & Walsh Dental Hygiene: Theory and
Practice 6th Edition by Jennifer A. Pieren
, Chapter 01: The Dental Hygiene Profession
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Define the discipline of dental hygiene?
a. The study of teeth and their supporting structures
b. Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse
twice a day, morning and night
c. The study of preventive oral healthcare, including the management of behavior to
prevent oral disease and promote health
d. The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to patients
CORRECT CHOICE✔✔ C
The study of teeth and their supporting structures. This answer is wrong because the discipline
of dental hygiene covers much more information than the study of teeth and supporting
structures. Dental hygiene focuses on the preventive measures that the teeth and supporting
structures must receive, in addition to other oral healthcare steps that must be taken to
promote one’s health.
Brushing and flossing one’s teeth and rinsing with an antimicrobial mouth rinse twice a day,
morning and night. This answer is wrong because this statement describes only one procedure
within the discipline of dental hygiene. Dental hygiene is a much larger and general field of
study than this simple preventive action.
The study of preventive oral healthcare including the management of behavior to prevent oral
disease and promote health. This answer is correct because this is the direct definition of
dental hygiene. The definition can be broken down into smaller, specified divisions to further
develop the discipline of dental hygiene.
The study of those procedures that dental hygienists provide to patients. This answer is wrong
because dental hygienists play many interrelated roles, such as clinician, educator,
administrator or manager, advocate, and researcher. Although each of these roles is created to
assist in dental hygiene, the discipline is not centered on the actions and procedures of the
dental hygienist.
SOURCE: What is Dental Hygiene? | 1
2. Define the professional dental hygienist?
a. A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from a
Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental hygiene
program
b. A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program, such as
the Alabama Dental Hygienists Program
c. A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation,
accredited, dental school program
d. A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation,
accredited, dental assisting program
CORRECT CHOICE✔✔ A
, A licensed preventive oral health professional who has graduated from a Commission on
Dental Accreditation, accredited, entry level dental hygiene program. This answer is correct
because to be eligible as a professional dental hygienist, the person must have graduated from
an accredited dental hygiene program.
A licensed person who has learned on the job via a preceptorship program, such as the
Alabama Dental Hygienists Program. This answer is wrong because a dental hygienist cannot
learn on the job to become a professional. Rather, they must pass written examinations and
graduate from an accredited dental hygiene program.
A dentist who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, dental
school program. This answer is wrong because a dentist has a higher degree than a dental
hygienist and therefore, generally, works above a dental hygienist. It is not necessary for a
dental hygienist to receive an education from a dental school.
A person who has graduated from a Commission on Dental Accreditation, accredited, dental
assisting program. This answer is wrong because a person graduating from an accredited
dental assisting program would only be licensed as a dental assistant.
SOURCE: Who Is the Dental Hygienist? | 1
3. All of these services are provided by the majority of dental hygienists in the clinical setting
except one. Which one is the exception?
a. Perform periodontal maintenance care.
b. Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness.
c. Provide fluoride varnish treatment.
d. Place and remove restorations.
CORRECT CHOICE✔✔ D
Perform periodontal maintenance care. This is a service provided in the clinical setting. The
clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related to
periodontal disease. For example: subgingival sustained-release delivery systems containing
chlorhexidine.
Implement interventions to direct a person back to oral wellness. This is a service provided in
the clinical setting. The main goal of a dental hygienist is to prevent oral disease and promote
health. Therefore, if the state of an individual’s oral health changes, the dental hygienist
(within the scope of the clinical setting) can provide some degree of intervention to direct the
individual back to oral wellness.
Provide fluoride varnish treatment. This is a service provided in the clinical setting. The
clinical setting allows for application of preventive and therapeutic agents related to dental
caries. Fluoride varnish treatments prolong fluoride exposure on the tooth surface for safe and
effective caries control.
Place and remove restorations. This service is not provided by the majority of dental
hygienists in the clinical setting. Only a few dental hygienists have the certification to place
restorations, while many others do not. Also, the removal of restorations is not a given action
of a dental hygienist in the clinical setting.
SOURCE: Clinician | 3
4. Which of these is a key behavior within the dental hygiene process of care?
a. Observation
b. Diagnosis
c. Communication skills
, d. Patient care
CORRECT CHOICE✔✔ B
Observation. This answer is wrong because dental hygienists must go further than simply
observing the patient. The hygienist must assess the patient by thoroughly collecting data.
Diagnosis. This answer is correct because identifying the diagnosis is the focal point for
establishing goals in the dental hygiene care plan. The patient’s dental hygiene needs are
determined so that specific interventions can be implemented.
Communication skills. This answer is wrong because the communication skills are not a key
behavior and are not necessary to complete the dental hygiene process.
Patient care. This answer is wrong because patient care is not one of the steps in dental hygiene
care. However, proper patient care is the goal being achieved through the key behaviors.
SOURCE: What Is the Dental Hygiene Process of Care? | 1
5. Which of these is not an environmental factor that the dental hygienist takes into account
in the Human Needs Model?
a. Age
b. Attitudes
c. Lifestyles
d. Weight
CORRECT CHOICE✔✔ D
Age. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because age plays
a large role in the development of an individual’s oral health.
Attitudes. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because it
can have an effect on the dental hygiene process.
Lifestyles. This answer is an environmental factor that must be taken into account because an
individual’s oral health can be affected by lifestyle choices.
Weight. This answer is not an environmental factor that must be taken into account because an
individual’s weight does not affect their oral health. The diet choices that go along with a
person’s particular weight may affect oral health, but the overall weight of an individual does
not.
SOURCE: What Is the Dental Hygiene Process of Care? | 1
6. Which of these is not one of the seven roles of a dental hygienist?
a. Clinician
b. Public Health
c. Interpreter
d. Researcher
CORRECT CHOICE✔✔ C
The seven roles of a dental hygienist are clinician, public health, researcher, educator,
administrator, and entrepreneur.
SOURCE: Chapter One, Table 1-1 Seven Roles of the Dental Hygienist | 4
7. What is a paradigm?
a. A widely accepted worldview of a discipline that shapes the knowledge of its
practitioners, educators, administrators, and researchers
