Diabetes and oral health quiz

This is an 8-question quiz to test your knowledge of the materials provided in the Practice Information Sheet. Please record your choices on a piece of paper and use it to compare with the answers we provide at the bottom of this page.

Question 1  Choose one answer.

(a)  Rates of diabetes are increasing in all age groups including children and adolescents

(b)  Up to half of all people with type 2 diabetes are unaware that they have the condition

(c)  The risk of type 2 diabetes increases with age

(d)  All of the THREE response options given

Question 2  Gestational diabetes. Pick the FALSE statement

(a)  3-8% of pregnant woman will suffer from gestational diabetes

(b)  gestational diabetes is not an autoimmune disease.

(c)  it is a temporary form of diabetes.

(d) gestational diabetes is a marker for increased risk of developing diabetes later in life

(e)  it is a permanent form of diabetes as women with gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes later in life

Question 3  Hypoglycaemia in the dental surgery:
                 (ONE of the following statements is false; pick the FALSE statement)
                 SYMPTOMS include:

(a)  sweating, tremor/trembling, palpitations/pounding heart

(b)  leg cramps, nausea, drooling, stomach pain

(c)  anxiety, tiredness, pallor, headache, hunger, dizziness

(d)  irritability, blurred vision, aggressive behaviour, slurred speech

(e)  confusion, drowsiness, convulsions, coma

Question 4   ONE of the following statements is false; pick the FALSE statement.

(a)  Research has shown that people with diabetes are at greater risk of dental caries than people without diabetes.

(b)  People with diabetes with poor glycaemic control may experience dry mouth caused by increased urination or alterations in the salivary glands.

(c)  Frequent oral candida infections associated with salivary hypofunction may indicate diabetes in an undiagnosed person.

(d)  Taste disturbances and neurosensory disorders associated with diabetes may affect diet and oral hygiene.

Question 5  Guidelines for dental visits:
            (ONE of the following statements is false; pick the FALSE statement):

(a)  The clinician should make sure that prescribed insulin or oral medication has been taken, followed by a meal
(b)  tissues should be handled as atraumatically and minimally as possible
(c)  always contact patient’s medical practitioner prior to the dental appointment to check if dental treatment is possible
(d)  Morning appointments are best as the insulin level is appropriate

Question 6  Diabetes mellitus can be caused by:
                 Choose one answer.

(a)  acquired deficiency in production of insulin

(b)  reduced effectiveness of insulin produced

(c)  inherited deficiency in production of insulin

(d)  all of the response options given

Question 7  The long term systemic complications of diabetes include increased risk of:
                 (ONE of the following statements is false; pick the FALSE statement):

(a)  heart disease and renal failure

(b)  periodontal disease

(c)  autoimmunosuppression disorders

(d)  lower limb amputation and blindness

Question 8  Periodontal disease and diabetes:
                 (ONE of the following statements is false; pick the FALSE statement):

(a)  Periodontal disease has no effect on how difficult it is to control diabetes.

(b)  Poorer glycaemic control leads to both an increased risk for alveolar bone loss and more severe progression of periodontal disease.

(c)  Research has confirmed that gingivitis and periodontitis are more severe if the person with diabetes is a smoker.

(d)  The relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways – not only do people with diabetes have more severe periodontal disease, but periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their diabetes.

Please choose your response to the eight questions above: