patient assessment

Question 1

Why is a comprehensive patient assessment essential?

Answer 1

provides a clear picture of the patient, ensuring the treatment plan is effective and not detrimental to their overall health.

Question 2

What happens if information gathered during a patient assessment is incomplete?

Answer 2

The treatment plan may be distorted, ineffective, or harmful to the patient’s overall health.

Question 3

What types of histories are needed for a comprehensive patient assessment?

Answer 3

Health history
Psychosocial history
Dental history

Question 4

What are risk factors in the context of oral disease?

Answer 4

Smoking
dietary habits
physical activity
alcohol consumption

Question 5

What is the recommended method for conducting a patient assessment interview?

Answer 5

asking open-ended questions

Question 6

What is the most important communication skill during the patient interview?

Answer 6

Listening

Question 7

What is the purpose of the health history in patient assessment?

Answer 7

To identify health-related considerations and medication side effects that may put a patient at nutritional risk.

Question 8

What are some drug-induced side effects relevant to oral health?

Answer 8

Changes in taste, appetite
increased risk of dental problems
gastrointestinal distress
nausea, vomiting
xerostomia

Question 9

What functional changes can medications cause that impact oral health?

Answer 9

Changes in taste or the ability to chew.

Question 10

What are useful questions to assess a patient’s dietary substance use?

Answer 10

Frequency of substance
Oral health habits
Xerostomia
Describe the last 24 hours of eating and drinking

Question 10

What is the purpose of assessing social history in patient assessment?

Answer 10

To identify factors influencing food intake and guide dietary modifications.

Question 11

How can social history be gathered effectively?

Answer 11

Through conversation, further questioning, and asking the patient to describe a typical day.

Question 12

What are useful questions to assess a patient’s living situation?

Answer 12

Do they have access to a kitchen?
Do they have a fridge to store
fresh produce?
Do they have access to clean
water?
Who usually cooks meals?
Who lives at home with them?

Question 12

What key factors should be considered in social history?

Answer 12

Socioeconomic status
Living situation
Dietary restrictions
Substance use
Access to food

Question 13

Why is understanding emotional patterns important in social history?

Answer 13

provide insight into food choices and help tailor dietary suggestions.

Question 14

What are useful questions to assess a patient’s socioeconomic status?

Answer 14

What do they do for a living?
How do they work- full, part
Or unemployed?
How do you typically get to
the grocery store?
What barriers to accessing healthy food due to their location or transportation options?

Question 15

What are useful questions to assess a patient’s dietary restrictions/changes ?

Answer 15

Do you have necessary time to cook meals?
Are they any cultural or Dietary restrictions that influence their food choices?

Question 16

Why is understanding a patient’s dental history important?

Answer 16

develop effective strategies for patient education by understanding how patients perceive and value their oral health.

Question 17

What topics should be covered when gathering a patient’s dental history?

Answer 17

Tobacco use
Alcohol use
Fluoride history
Snacking patterns
Sweetened beverages
Dentition status

Question 18

What is the most effective technique for gathering a comprehensive history?

Answer 18

Conducting an interview with the patient.

Question 19

What is the purpose of assessing a patient’s nutritional status?

Answer 19

To identify physical characteristics and determine any nutritional factors that may impede dental treatment or recovery.

Question 20

How does nutritional assessment benefit dental care?

Answer 20

It provides information for well-informed recommendations or referrals and helps address medical or dental complications influenced by nutrition.

Question 21

What should be done if abnormal findings or potential nutrient deficiencies are identified?

Answer 21

Refer the patient to a medical doctor (MD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

Question 22

What weight-related factors should be observed during a physical appearance assessment?

Answer 22

appears under- or overweight, assess concerns about protein and calorie intake, and note any significant weight changes since the last visit.

Question 23

How can mobility impact a patient’s oral and nutritional health?

Answer 23

may hinder dexterity for oral care procedures and affect the ability to obtain and prepare food.

Question 24

What physical appearance signs can indicate potential nutritional deficiencies or excesses?

Answer 24

Changes in fingernails (e.g., due to iron deficiency).
Pale skin tone (associated with anemia).
Alopecia or cheilosis (caused by vitamin A toxicity).
Yellowish palms (linked to beta-carotene excess).
Dry eyes.

Question 25

What are key findings during an Intraoral Examination (IOE) related to nutritional status?

Answer 25

Burning sensation of oral mucosa or tongue.
Loss of taste or appetite.
Angular cheilosis and glossitis.
Presence of ulcers, gingivitis, or periodontal disease.
Biofilm accumulation and slow wound healing.
Xerostomia and hardening of salivary glands.

Question 26

What is the significance of weight loss in clinical observation?

Answer 26

A reduction of 10% of usual weight over a 6-month period is significant.
Loss of 20% or more of body weight may indicate depletion of body stores, affecting immune response and the ability to heal after invasive dental treatment.

Question 27

Blood and urine samples provide most sensitive data, what are some examples?

Answer 27

A1C
INR

Question 28

In a dental environment, lab evaluations can include?

Answer 28

Measuring salivary flow
Plaque indices
Caries risk assessment
pH of saliva
Monitoring blood glucose

Question 29

What is the purpose of evaluating a patient’s diet history?

Answer 29

To assess the patient’s nutritional status and determine their usual dietary habits.
The goal is to individualize recommendations and suggest minor changes to improve dietary quality.

Question 30

What additional factors should be considered when evaluating diet history?

Answer 30

Food preparation methods, use of nonfat and diet foods, and consumption of beverages/condiments.
For minors, the diet history must be reviewed with a parent, guardian, or caregiver.

Question 31

What is the purpose of a 24-hour recall in dietary assessment?

Answer 31

To gather retrospective data about food intake and habits within a 24-hour period.

Question 32

What are the advantages of a 24-hour recall?

Answer 32

Quick and simple to administer during a clinic visit.

Question 33

What are the disadvantages of a 24-hour recall?

Answer 33

Patient may struggle to remember accurately what was eaten.
Intake may be consciously or unconsciously altered, leading to bias.
May not reflect a typical day’s eating habits.

Question 34

What is a food diary/food record used for in dietary assessment?

Answer 34

To track nutrient intake over a 3- to 7-day period and compare it to RDA or Federal Government Program (FGP) guidelines.

Question 35

What are the advantages of using a food diary/food record?

Answer 35

Most effective method
Get a better idea of actual intake- more details

Question 36

What are the disadvantages of using a food diary/food record?

Answer 36

Compliance
Foods not written down immediately may be forgotten
Time-consuming to the person assessing the diet