Question 1: You notice that a fellow dental hygienist in your clinic is consistently providing substandard patient care and not adhering to infection control protocols. What should you do?
A) Ignore the situation and focus on your own work.
B) Report the issue to your supervisor or clinic manager.
C) Confront the hygienist directly about their behavior.
D) Pretend not to notice and hope the situation improves.
Rationale: The correct answer is B) Report the issue to your supervisor or clinic manager. This choice prioritizes patient safety and upholds the ethical principle of nonmaleficence. By reporting the issue, you are advocating for the well-being of the patients and ensuring the maintenance of professional standards.
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Question 2: You are examining a bitewing radiograph and notice a radiolucent area between the roots of two adjacent teeth. The tooth structure appears intact, and there is no evidence of periodontal disease. What is the most likely interpretation?
A) Interdental caries
B) Periapical abscess
C) External root resorption
D) Radicular cyst
Rationale:
A) Interdental caries
This option demonstrates the ability to differentiate between different radiographic findings. In this case, the radiolucent area between the roots of two adjacent teeth suggests the presence of interdental caries. The intact tooth structure and absence of periodontal disease support this interpretation. Periapical abscess (option B) would present with bone loss and periapical inflammation. External root resorption (option C) appears as a loss of root structure. A radicular cyst (option D) would present as a well-defined radiolucent lesion at the apex of a non-vital tooth.