Pernicious anemia symptoms

# A patient with pernicious anemia often consults the dentist for relief of:
A. Edematous buccal mucosa
B. Severe gingivitis
C. Glossitis
D. Denuded gingiva

The correct answer is: C. Glossitis

Pernicious anemia is a relatively common, chronic, progressive, megaloblastic anemia. It is caused by the lack of secretion of the intrinsic factor in normal gastric juice. This factor is necessary for adequate absorption of vitamin B12, which is necessary for the maturation of erythrocytes. As a result, they produce fewer erythrocytes than normal.

The onset of pernicious anemia usually is insidious and vague. As the condition progresses, there will be a sore, painful tongue (atrophic glossitis), angular cheilitis, a tingling numbness of the extremities, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), painful swallowing (odynophagia). 

A Schilling 24-hour urine test is done to evaluate whether vitamin B 12 is being absorbed by the body and is most commonly used to evaluate patients for pernicious anemia.

Bremsstrahlung / Braking radiation

# Which of the following interactions is responsible for the creating of Bremsstrahlung / Braking radiation?
A. Electrons falling from the K shell to the J shell
B. Interaction of electrons with electrons
C. Conversion of photons into electrons
D. Interaction of electrons with nuclei

The correct answer is D. Interaction of electrons with nuclei.

Bremsstrahlung radiation is created when

high-speed electrons interact with the

Tungsten nuclei at the target.

The fast-moving electron loses kinetic

energy when it interacts with the nuclei,

converting the lost kinetic energy into a

photon.

Radiographic density of which varies most

# The radiographic density of which of the
following materials varies the MOST?
A. Amalgam
B. Soft tissue
C. Composite
D. Acrylic
E. Gold

The correct answer is C. Composite.

The radiographic density of composites
varies the most because the manufacturers
may place a different amount of barium
salts or other opaque filling materials.

Metals like amalgam and gold appear with
a standard amount of radiopacity.

Acrylic typically does not possess any
opaquers, and therefore is usually totally
radiolucent.

Soft tissue is fairly radiolucent.

Use of intensifying screens

# Which of the following is the reason
intensifying screens are used with extraoral
radiographic films?
A. Improve the image quality
B. Increase the exposure time
C. Increase the kVp
D. Decrease the radiation dose of the patient

The correct answer is D. Decrease the radiation dose of the patient.

Intensifying films MUST be used with
extraoral radiographic films in order to
decrease the dose of radiation to the
patient.

Radiation is harmful, even in small doses, toi ndividual cells in the body.

Radiation can cause abnormal changes that
leads to cancer.

Intensifying screens when used with x ray
films using emulsions, make them more
sensitive to blue or green light.

The X-ray photons are converted to visible
light photons when they strike the screen.

Lead aprons and thyroid collars are
mandatory preventive armamentarium in dental radiograhy.