Saliva flows continuously throughout the day and night, averaging production of about three pints every 24 hours.  Of the resting sources of salivary production, the highest percentage of saliva comes from the Parotid salivary gland.

What level of professional periodontal care is appropriate for this patient?

Saliva plays a role in caries prevention by producing salivary buffers. These buffers decrease the pH of saliva, making the saliva more acidic.    

Dextran is a bacterial by-product that provides for better tooth adherence for bacteria. Dextran can provide a food source for bacteria when needed.  

The BEST description of the soft tissue firm lesion in the photograph is:

A sessile lesion has a wide base of attachment. A pedunculated lesion has a narrow base of attachment and an associated stalk.    

A sessile lesion has a wide base of attachment. A pedunculated lesion has a narrow base of attachment and an associated stalk.    

The caries disease process occurs because cariogenic bacteria produce acid by-products which cause demineralization of the tooth surface.  A carious lesion results when the cumulative effects of demineralization exceed the rate of remineralization of the site.    

Gingival texture is determined by pressing the tissue lightly with a periodontal probe. Gingival texture is the most reliable indicator of gingival inflammation.  

For the following items below, assume your patient has responded positively on his/her medical history.  Using responses A or B, indicate whether or not antibiotic premedication is necessary for each condition.   A = antibiotic premedication is necessary for dental hygiene treatment B = antibiotic premedication is not necessary for dental hygiene treatment