NCLEX® QOTD: Oral symptoms

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In today’s NCLEX Question of the Day, a nurse in a community health clinic assesses a client reporting various oral symptoms. Test your knowledge by matching descriptions of abnormal oral conditions with their corresponding terms. Let’s dive in!

The nurse in the community health clinic is conducting an assessment on a client who reports several oral symptoms.  For each abnormal oral condition description, click to indicate the condition it correlates with. 

DescriptionHalitosisDental plaqueDental CariesStomatitisGingivitis Periodontitis 
Severe inflammation of the supporting structures of teeth, including soft tissue and bonesX
Chronic bad breathX
Tooth decay or cavitiesX
Non-destructive inflammation of the gingivaX
Inflammation that affects mucous membranes of the mouth and lipsX
Films of saliva and microbes that stick to the teethX

Scroll down for the correct answers!

Major Takeaway

There are several oral conditions the nurse should know about. Halitosis refers to a chronic bad breath which can be the result of poor oral hygiene or an underlying health problem. Dental plaques are films of saliva and microbes that stick to the teeth and can lead to tartar, which are crusty deposits. Dental caries, also known as tooth decay or cavities, is damage caused by acid-producing bacteria in the mouth. Stomatitis refers to any inflammation that affects mucous membranes of the mouth and lips. Next is gingivitis, which is a non-destructive inflammation of the gingiva, or gums. If left untreated, gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, which is a severe inflammation of the supporting structures of teeth, including soft tissue and bones. Moreover, in people over the age of 35, periodontitis is the main cause of tooth loss. If a person has lost a tooth, they can replace it with a prosthetic tooth, which is also known as a dental implant. On the other hand, dentures are removable replacements of the missing teeth and surrounding tissue which allow people to chew food normally. When a person has no natural teeth left, it is called edentulous.

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