National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Dental Hygienist Practice Test

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Get ready for the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) with our comprehensive quizzes. Study using multiple-choice questions that come with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your dental hygienist exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

A dental carie is another name for a _____________.

Dental instrument
The gum line
Cavity
Plaque build-up

The correct answer is: Cavity

A dental carie specifically refers to the process of decay in a tooth, which ultimately results in the formation of a cavity. When tooth decay progresses, it creates a hole or structural damage in the tooth, commonly known as a cavity. This term encompasses both the disease process that leads to the destruction of tooth structure and the resultant physical space created by that destruction. The other options do not accurately represent what a dental carie is. Dental instruments are tools used by dental professionals for various procedures. The gum line refers to the edge of the gums where they meet the teeth, and plaque build-up is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on teeth but is not synonymous with decay or cavities. Understanding the terminology related to dental health is essential in both clinical practice and patient education.