Deck 21: Dental Hygiene Diagnosis

Question 1

Dental hygienists are cautioned not to make a dental diagnosis but rather to identify client problems or conditions for the dentist, who will then make a dental diagnosis. Which of the following statements on the client record demonstrates that the dental hygienist is making a dental diagnosis rather than communicating a problem in need of a dental diagnosis?

A) Mr. Smith has a 5 mm of attachment loss in the periodontal areas on teeth 2, 3, 14, 15, 17-18, and 30-32.
B) Mr. Smith has severe necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis.
C) Mr. Smith has signs of periodontal disease around tooth 12.
D) There is a radiolucent area on Mr. Smith's radiograph around tooth 5.

Answer 1

Mr. Smith has severe necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis.

Question 2

The dental hygiene diagnosis can be based on just one sign or symptom. This is to simplify the dental hygiene diagnostic process.

A) The first statement is true, and the second statement is false.
B) The first statement is false, and the second statement is true.
C) Both statements are true.
D) Both statements are false.

Answer 2

Both statements are false.

Question 3

After assessment, the dental hygienist notes that a client who is a quadriplegic has a generalized 4 to 5 mm clinical attachment loss, generalized moderate bleeding on probing, and heavy plaque accumulation. What human needs deficit does this client most likely have?

A) Biologically sound and functional dentition
B) Freedom from fear and stress
C) Freedom from pain
D) Skin and mucous membrane integrity of the head and neck

Answer 3

Skin and mucous membrane integrity of the head and neck

Question 4

Which of the following should accompany a dental hygiene diagnosis?

A) Signs noted by the dental hygienist
B) Symptoms reported by the client
C) Risk problems (cause)
D) All of the above

Question 5

Which of the following is not an ideal dental hygiene diagnosis?

A) An unmet human need for biologically sound dentition due to poor dentistry, manifested by overhanging restorations
B) A potential unmet human need for freedom from health risks as manifested by use of "spit" tobacco
C) An unmet human need for skin and mucous membrane integrity of the head and neck, related to skill deficiency in removing bacterial plaque, as evidenced by plaque and gingival bleeding scores of 5 and 2, respectively

Question 6

All of the following describe what a dental hygiene diagnosis does within the process of care except:

A) provides a focus for professional care.
B) clarifies the scope of dental hygiene practice.
C) clarifies what the client needs to do to promote and maintain oral health and wellness.
D) facilitates care planning and evaluation.

Question 7

If a 3-year-old child has objective signs of early childhood caries and a history of still using a bottle with milk at night to go to sleep, what human need deficit does this child most likely have?

A) Biologically sound and functional dentition
B) Freedom from fear and stress
C) Freedom from pain
D) Skin and mucous membrane integrity of the head and neck

Question 8

Some legal jurisdictions allow a dental hygienist to identify oral disease such as moderate pregnancy-associated gingivitis or early chronic periodontitis as long as it is not the final dental diagnosis. What is this type of diagnosis called?

A) Early dental diagnosis
B) Final dental diagnosis
C) Preliminary dental diagnosis
D) None of the above

Question 9

Dental diagnoses identify diseases or conditions for which the dentist directs or provides the primary treatment; dental hygiene diagnoses identify unmet human needs (also known as human need deficits) that can be met by dental hygienists within the scope of dental hygiene practice.

A) The first statement is true, and the second statement is false.
B) The first statement is false, and the second statement is true.
C) Both statements are true.
D) Both statements are false.

Question 10

The client's apparent lack of knowledge about how smoking affects periodontal and systemic health status would fall under which unmet human need?

A) Freedom from pain
B) Conceptualization and problem solving
C) Freedom from fear and stress
D) Responsibility for oral health

Question 11

All of the following describe a characteristic of a dental hygiene diagnosis except:

A) focuses on client's conditions.
B) is derived from the data collected during assessment.
C) requires the signature of the dentist.
D) is necessary for planning and implementing dental hygiene care.

Question 12

The client reports that he sometimes wears a nicotine patch. What might this suggest to the astute dental hygienist?

A) The client has a strong addiction to cigarettes and needs additional nicotine.
B) The client has an interest in controlling his tobacco addiction.
C) The client may be under a great deal of emotional stress.
D) The client is in a formal smoking-cessation program.

Question 13

In a dental hygiene diagnosis statement, the dental hygienist must avoid which of the following?

A) Cause
B) Signs and symptoms
C) Value judgments
D) None of the above

Question 14

The client's assessed blood pressure was 140/90 mm Hg. Given the client's race, weight, smoking behavior, and periodontal health status, what systemic disease is this client most at risk for?

A) Diabetes mellitus
B) Respiratory disease
C) Renal disease
D) Cardiovascular disease

Question 15

The dental hygiene diagnosis is made after which process of care phase?

A) Assessment
B) Planning
C) Implementation
D) Evaluation

Question 16

If a client has clinical swelling in the area where teeth have signs of untreated caries, signs of caries, and periapical pathosis on radiographs, and the client complains of pain in the area throughout the day and night, which unmet human need(s) does this client most likely have?

A) Biologically sound and functional dentition
B) Freedom from fear and stress, and freedom from pain
C) Freedom from pain, and a biologically sound and functional dentition
D) Skin and mucous membrane integrity of the head and neck, and a biologically sound and functional dentition

Question 17

The dental hygiene diagnosis is written in a three-part statement that includes all of the following except:

A) unmet human need.
B) cause.
C) length of time the patient has had the problem.
D) defining characteristics (signs and symptoms).

Question 18

Which of the following defines a client goal?

A) Desired outcome of care
B) Maintenance care for the client
C) Oral health and wellness
D) Good attitude about care

Question 19

When the diagnoses for this client are completed, which unmet human need should be addressed first?

A) Freedom from fear and stress
B) Freedom from pain
C) Biologically sound and functional dentition
D) Skin and mucous membrane integrity of the head and neck

Question 20

All of the following are unmet human needs for the client except:

A) freedom from pain.
B) freedom from fear and stress.
C) biologically sound and functional dentition.
D) conceptualization and problem solving.