the application of the relevant knowledge.
Key words or phrases are not highlighted.
There are always five answer options.
Only one of those five will be the ‘best’ option for that specific question and is therefore the correct answer in that instant.
The answers are always homologous, that is, of the same form (so, all oral hygiene products, all restorative materials, all bacteria and so on).
The answers are always set out alphabetically or numerically in ascending order (so from A to Z, or lowest to highest number).
It is important to note that the same five answer options could be used with several slightly different question stems, and with each one having a different single ‘best’ option answer – hence the importance of reading the specific question carefully.
As the question style always follows the same pattern, it is not possible for examination candidates to ‘work out by elimination’ or ‘guess’ the correct answer – they must have the relevant knowledge and understanding of the topic to be able to apply it to the specific question. Only then can the single best answer be identified.
Similarly, as an ascending alphabetical or numerical order is always followed in the answer options, the correct answer cannot be determined by counting how many times, say, option C has been an answer and therefore not choosing it again. The single best answer for each question will be at whichever option letter it falls at alphabetically or numerically only. So, it is quite feasible for an examination paper to have option C as the correct answer for every question asked, if the correct answer for each question happens to fall at option C alphabetically or numerically. Consequently, candidates are unable to guess the answer.
During the examination, candidates mark their single answer choice on an optical marking sheet for each question, by pencilling a horizontal line through a small box adjacent to their chosen answer option – A, B, C, D, or E. Only one box must be filled in for each question, otherwise the optical reader in the computer will reject that question, so candidates must take care to fully erase an answer when changing their option choice during the examination. Similarly, the box must only be filled in by pencilling a horizontal line in it – drawing a circle around the box or putting a cross through it will also cause the optical reader to reject that question.
Below are five examples of the one of five single best answer style MCQs, with the correct answer and accompanying explanation for each one.
1 The General Dental Council Standards document states that patients expect the dental team to act promptly to protect their safety if there are concerns about the health of a team member in relation to drug abuse. Which one of the following options is the term used to describe this action? ComplainingRaising concernsReporting untoward incidentsSafeguarding childrenSafeguarding vulnerable adultsThe correct answer is B.Any person acting under the influence of drugs can be assumed to be not of sound mind at the time, as the drugs are, by definition, mind‐altering substances. The potential of the drug abuser to cause harm or injury to anyone while under the influence of drugs is huge, especially in the health environment when patients have put their trust in the professionalism of the staff treating them.
2 Dental caries, gingivitis and periodontitis are the three main dental diseases of concern to the dental team. Advice on preventing them and providing treatment when one or more diseases are present forms the bulk of the daily work of the team. Which one of the following options describes the role of fluoride in the reduction of a patient’s caries experience?Control bacterial plaque build‐upControl the host response to diseaseModify any contributory factorsModify the dietStrengthen teeth against acidsThe correct answer is E.The inorganic crystal structure of teeth is composed of hydroxyapatite crystals. When fluoride is applied to teeth topically (as gels and varnishes) or is incorporated into the tooth structure from systemic fluoride (such as fluoridated water), it forms fluorapatite crystals, which is a crystalline structure more resistant to damage by weak organic acids formed in the mouth by bacteria. The stronger structure results in fewer dental cavities.
3 All student dental nurses begin their careers working in a supervised environment, either in general practice or in specialist clinics or hospitals. A specific risk assessment will have been carried out to ensure their safety within that environment while carrying out potentially hazardous work activities. Which one of the following options is the most likely activity that could result in the student dental nurse receiving a projectile injury to the eye?Chairside assistingInstrument decontaminationUse of autoclaveUse of chemicalsUse of X‐raysThe correct answer is A. During use, dental handpieces revolve at a very fast speed, and it is not unusual for pieces of filling or tooth to shoot out of a patient’s mouth while being drilled. All chairside staff should wear personal protective equipment specifically to protect their eyes during treatment sessions.
4 Many diseases are caused by contamination of the body cells by microscopic living organisms, collectively called pathogenic micro‐organisms, or pathogens. Which one of the following pathogens are types of microscopic plant‐like organisms that grow across the surface of body cells and tissues?BacteriaFungiPrionsProtozoaVirusesThe correct answer is B.Microscopically, fungi are similar in appearance to colonies of mushrooms or toadstools, with an extensive network of surface branches lying across the body tissue and their reproductive bodies sprouting out like mushrooms. They are the largest of the pathogenic micro‐organisms.
5 Composite filling materials are tooth‐coloured restoratives that are available in a wide range of shades, enabling them to be matched to a patient’s tooth colour when used. The majority are light‐cured and contain an inorganic filler, resin and a catalyst that is activated when exposed to the curing light at the chairside. Which one of the following options is an example of a composite material used to avoid the need for incremental curing during restoration?Bulk‐fill compositeHybrid compositeMicrofine compositeNano compositeUniversal compositeThe correct answer is A.Bulk‐fill composites can be placed into a cavity as one increment and cured to a depth of 4–5 mm (depending on the material used) in one set. This significantly reduces the clinical time required to restore a large cavity with composite filling material, as ordinary composite materials only set to a depth of 2 mm and therefore require incremental curing, making the restorative procedure much longer to achieve.
Extended matching questions
This style of question consists of a given topic heading (such as microbiology, disease prevention, pain and anxiety control and so on) accompanied by a lead‐in statement and a list of options. Each option list is followed by a set of questions that each describe a particular scenario, for which the candidate must choose one or more matching options from the list as the answer(s) to the specific question. All candidates have the same definitive option lists provided in the written examination paper for each question set and can only match answers for each question from the relevant option list. All this style of question follows the form shown below.
The topic covered by the question set is stated, to help focus the candidate’s thought processes.
The lead‐in statement explains what candidates are required to do and how many options they are required to choose from the list – this will either be ‘the single most appropriate…’ or ‘the requested number of…’.
The option list will usually contain a minimum of eight options.
The options are always homologous – of the same form (so all surgical instruments, all restorative materials and so on).
The options are always set out alphabetically or numerically in ascending order (so from a) to b) or from lowest to highest
