Current Endodontic Treatment

Self-Study Examination

Instructions: After studying the text answer the following true/false or multiple choice questions.  Remember, there's only one answer to each question.

1. The first endodontist to do a comprehensive updating of endodontics files was

a) Hess.
b) Ingle.
c) Schilder.
d) Vertucci.

2. A .04 tapered instrument means that

a) it is 4 times as wide as a standardized file.
b) it is 4 times longer than a standardized file.
c) the distance where the flutes start is .04 mm up the shaft.
d) every mm of length of the file gains .04 mm width.

3. Leeb's contribution to canal preparations was that he was

a) the first to use .04 instruments.
b) the first to treat endodontic cases in only one appointment.
c) the first to use silver points rather than gutta-percha as canal filling material.
d) the first to recommend enlarging the coronal portion of the tooth prior to enlarging the apical portion.

4. The first tooth to be studied for canal configuration in the last 50 years was the

a) mandibular incisor.
b) maxillary first molar.
c) mandibular first molar.
d) C-shaped mandibular second molar.

5. The configuration studies of Pineda and Kuttler were performed by

a) horizontal sectioning of the extracted tooth.
b) radiographs of the tooth in vitro.
c) radiographs of the tooth in vivo.
d) examination using a microscope.

6. Two palatal roots in the maxillary second molar

a) are never present.
b) occur more frequently than in the maxillary first molar.
c) occur less frequently than in the C-shaped mandibular second molar.
d) occur more frequently than two buccal roots in the maxillary second molar.

7. The Type III canal system, as described by Weine,

a) has 2 canals in the orifice, merging into a single canal at the apex.
b) has 2 canals in the orifice which are separate and distinct to the apex.
c) has 1 canal in orifice, dividing into 2 canals short of the apex.
d) has 3 canals in the orifice, merging into 2 canals at the apex.

8. The "zip" and the "elbow"

a) may occur in straight as well as curved canals.
b) most often occur in curved canals in the area from 2 to 5 mm from the apex.
c) do not cause any problem in the treatment of curved canals.
d) occur in primary teeth more often than permanent teeth.

9. The "zip" may cause

a) separation of a file during canal preparation.
b) perforation of the instrument into periapical tissue.
c) problems in maxillary teeth more than mandibular teeth.
d) none of the above.

10. The .04 tapered, rotary instrument should be used with

a) little or no irrigation.
b) the handpiece used for routine dental treatment.
c) only as a hand file.
d) none of the above.

11. In most reports, the canal configuration studies

a) all agree in statistics within a small percentage.
b) are meaningless because the country of birth has a great deal of effect on the statistics.
c) have statistics on patients with backgrounds in Europe or Africa, but rarely on those from Asia.
d) none of the above.

12. In a study of the C-shaped modibular second molars, one of the following authors reported the most teeth:

a) Weine, et al., (1998)
b) Vertucci (1984)
c) Evenot (1980)
d) Pineda and Kuttler (1972)

13. Gutta-percha, for use as a canal filling material,

a) has been employed for over 100 years.
b) has been the only filling material employed until recently.
c) comes from India.
d) can be grown in test tubes.

14. Single-treatment endodontic therapy

a) was introduced only several years ago.
b) takes more chair time than use of multiple appointments.
c) has been studied only rarely.
d) none of the above.

15. The use of angled radiographs for the maxillary first molar are best when taken from

a) the mesial.
b) the distal.
c) the palatal.
d) straight on.

16. NiTi files

a) possess pseudoelasticity.
b) may be used with mechanical handpieces.
c) were quickly used by the dental community after their introduction.
d) all of the above.

17. The SX file

a) is useful at the apex of molar teeth.
b) is usually employed as a hand instrument.
c) has a working length of 19 mm.
d) has little use in molar teeth.

18. The most difficult canal to prepare in the dental arch is the

a) mesiobuccal of the maxillary first molar.
b) mesiobuccal of the maxillary second molar.
c) mesiobuccal of the mandibular first molar.
d) mesiobuccal of the mandibular second molar.

19. Bjorndal wrote many endodontic papers on

a) canal configuration.
b) single-sitting treatment.
c) use of NiTi files.
d) none of the above .

20. The C-shaped mandibular second molar may have

a) many slits that merge near the apex.
b) some slits that do not merge at the apex.
c) similar configuration to some mandibular first molars.
d) all of the above.

21. The mesial root of the mandibular second molar

a) usually has only one canal.
b) may have a C-shape.
c) usually has two canals, but many often merge short of the apex.
d) none of the above.

22. NiTi files

a) have been manufactured by many dental companies.
b) have a limited useful life because after repeated use they may fracture.
c) are used in industry as well as dentistry.
d) all of the above.

23. Canals in posterior teeth with deep restorations or considerable caries

a) are large at the orifices and then become smaller near the apices.
b) are small at the orifices and then become larger near the apices.
c) are small at the orifices, become wider in midcanal and then smaller near the apices.
d) are usually very straight.

24. Endodontic hand files with flutes of greater than 16 mm in length

a) are never manufactured.
b) are still called D16 at the end of the flutes.
c) are present in reamers but never in files.
d) none of the above.

25. Endodontic treatment is

a) an important part of dental therapy.
b) can be mastered with practice on extracted teeth and plastic blocks and with continuing education courses.
c) still indicated in an arch where dental implants have been placed.
d) all of the above.