Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice

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Prepare for the Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) with our comprehensive quiz. Enhance your knowledge with questions covering all exam sections. Each question includes detailed explanations to aid your understanding and readiness for the exam.

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How does plaque transition into calculus?

It dislodges from the tooth surface
It calcifies due to saliva mineralization
It dissolves in the oral cavity
It is removed during brushing

The correct answer is: It calcifies due to saliva mineralization

Plaque transitions into calculus primarily through the process of mineralization, which occurs as a result of saliva's influence. In the oral cavity, dental plaque—a soft, sticky film of bacteria and their byproducts—adheres to tooth surfaces. When left undisturbed, this plaque can become mineralized over time. Saliva contains minerals such as calcium and phosphate, which are crucial for this mineralization process. As saliva bathes the plaque, these minerals are deposited within it. This gradual mineralization process hardens the plaque, transforming it into calculus (also known as tartar), which is firmly attached to the teeth and much more difficult to remove than soft plaque. Understanding this process is essential for dental hygiene, as calculus contributes to periodontal diseases and requires professional dental cleaning to be effectively removed. Other options, such as dislodging or removal during brushing, do not accurately describe the transition process and do not address the essential role of mineralization in forming calculus.