Sample Questions and Answers
There are two written exams, a midyear and a final, and a quiz in the first semester. The exams consists of a mix of multiple choice questions, short answers, and essays. The following is an example of each format:
1. Multiple Choice Questions:
* The study of the distribution and determinants of dental disease in a target population is termed:
· Epidemic
· Oral epidemiology **
· Endemic
· Oral Etiology
2. Short Answer Questions:
* List all the demographic factors associated with periodontal disease and explain briefly how each factor affects the prevalence of gingivitis.
Key answer:
Age, sex, ses, and race.
Gingivitis is more common among adolescence compared to younger children and adults. Gingivitis is more common among males compared to females, in people with lower SES, and in US Blacks and Asian UKs.
3. Essay Questions:
* Is the following statement true or false? Explain why, citing evidence to support your answer. “Severity of periodontitis increases with age and is the main cause of tooth loss after the age of 35”.
Key Answer:
The statement is not true. Only 5-15% of any population is affected by severe periodontitis. The greater periodontal destruction seen in the elderly reflects lifetime disease accumulation, not an age-specific condition. Risk factors beyond age, dental plaque, and gingivitis are important in the onset and pathogenesis of severe periodontitis.
Longitudinal studies support the fact that severity of periodontal disease affects a small percentage of any population. In the Piedmont study, only 12% of all 65-80 year olds developed new incident CAL after 3 years. In the Sri Lankan study, only 8% of 14-46 year old tea workers who received no dental treatment developed rapid progression of periodontitis. And, among Norwegian professionals and students whom oral hygiene was excellent, none showed any increase in prevalence or severity of gingivitis between teen years and age 40.