Restorative & Materials · patient case question
All of the following contribute to a HIGH caries risk EXCEPT one. Which is the EXCEPTION?
Patient case: Man with bleeding gums, easy bruising and poor wound healing
Patient: Male, 45 years old
Chief complaint: “My gums bleed a lot.”
Background: Vitamin C deficiency. Depression.
Current findings: Easy bruising, poor wound healing, bone pain. Periodontal disease.
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. The number of yearly dental visits
- A. Low fluoride exposure raises risk by leaving enamel more soluble and reducing remineralisation.
- B. CORRECT — this is the EXCEPTION. How often a patient attends is a UTILISATION measure, not a biological risk factor. Attendance alone neither raises nor lowers caries risk; what matters is saliva, past caries experience, fluoride and diet.
- C. A heavily restored dentition is direct evidence of past and recurrent caries activity, and past caries is the strongest single predictor of future caries.
- D. Reduced salivary flow removes buffering, clearance and remineralisation capacity — a major risk factor.
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