Possible Dental Questions at Interviews

[Dr. Dai Phan]

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When you are at the interview, you may be asked some technical questions to judge your level of understanding. I have never interviewed international applicants but I was asked on many aspects of dentistry when I was seeking for a teaching job. I will post some questions that you may encounter and I will be happy to provide the answers upon request. If you have any questions that you would like some clarifications, I will be honored to provide my input.

1. What is Centric Relation (CR) and why is it important?
2. What is Centric Occlusion (CO) and why is it important?
3. Do you restore a crown in CR or CO? Explain your rationale.
4. What is the different between Intra-coronal restoration versus Extra-coronal restorations? Please give an example of each.
5. What is the use of the articulator?
6. What are the types of articulators?
7. What is Anterior Guidance? Why is it used?
8. What is the Bennett Angle?
9. What are the three types of occlusion?
10. What is the Pier Abutment?
11. What is Free Way Space?
12. What is the Free Way Space in denture construction? Give a number.
13. How do you determine Vertical Dimension in denture construction?
14. What is the different between Vertical Dimension at Rest versus Vertical Dimension of Occlusion?
15. What is the rational of palatal seal in upper denture?
16. Why is covering the retro-molar pads in lower denture important?
17. What is the Fox Plane?
18. Name three possible reasons why the upper denture lacks retention at delivery.
19. What is the difference between resistant versus retention?
20. What is the difference between stability and retention?

There are many more but this would serve as a basic review questions for you. If you find out that you cannot answer more than 60% of the questions, reviewing is highly advised. I hope this may be of some help. DP

 

[herodontist]

16. Why is covering the retro-molar pads in lower denture important?

I thought the retro-molar pad wasn't covered in lower denture construction? Correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[DENTZY]

I thought the retro-molar pad wasn't covered in lower denture construction? Correct me if i'm wrong.

herodontist
OF COURSE.IT IS V. IMP. POINT.ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE NOT CONFUSING IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE????

DR. DAI PHAN,
YOUR HELP IS INDISPENSABLE.....
THANKS A TON FOR YOUR EFFORT AND TIME

 

[profile76]

Dr

I really appreciate your concern for all of us. We really need this kind of encouragement.Your help is indispensible.You have proved to be an OASIS IN A DESERT..
Thanks and hope u'll continue to help us as much as u can.

At this point when I am looking forward for interviews,the questions u posted are very helpful.
can you suggest a book where we can find all the answers to the questions with diagrams,I do have the dental decks to explain but diagrams would be more explanatory.
Thanks in advance.

 

[degol]

Dr,
thanks a lot for everything that you have done for our small community of FTD`s!!!

One question concerning interview:

I know it depends from school to school, but do they ask more questions from your personal life and want to find out what kind of person you are, or do they want to test your dental knowledge and clinical experience?

Thank you once again!!!!👍

 

[ivorinedust]

I thought the retro-molar pad wasn't covered in lower denture construction? Correct me if i'm wrong.

Hmm...I was taught to divide the retromolar pads in thirds(anterior, middle and posterior). I was supposed to extend my denture base to the junction of the middle and posterior...farther than that, the posterior border of the lower denture base will touch the upper denture.

Ivorinedust

"Apolonia, relieve my toothache!"

 

[CALALILY]

Hello Dr. Phan,
Thankyou for posting these possible interview questions in prosthodontics.
I shall try and start answering some of them - it would be really nice if everyone could contribute. Thankyou...

1. CENTRIC RELATION: is also called retruded contact position or terminal hinge position. i believe that it is the position of the mandible when the first contact between opposing teeth takes place, during closure on the hinge axis (in other words - when the condyles and maximaly seated in their fossa). The first contact occurs and then the mandible closes into ICP (intercuspal position)
It is important as it is the only reproducible position possible.

2. CENTRIC OCCLUSION: also known as intercuspal position (ICP). When you ask a patient to bite on their back theeth, most of them close into this "most comfortable" position, where the maximum number of teeth contacts occur. This is different in everyone because it is guided by the shape of the teeth adn by the neuromuscular coordination. So, it is the most "closed" position of the jaws.
Why is it important - (not 100% sure, but I think....) It is important because it is the vertical position in which the maximum force is transmitted to the periodontium where the teeth are loaded axially. Secondly, I think it is important, as this is the position in which all restorations should be made.

I have attempted the forst 2 questions - please correct me if I am incorrect. Also, please try and answer some of these questions if possible.

Regards.. 🙂

When you are at the interview, you may be asked some technical questions to judge your level of understanding. I have never interviewed international applicants but I was asked on many aspects of dentistry when I was seeking for a teaching job. I will post some questions that you may encounter and I will be happy to provide the answers upon request. If you have any questions that you would like some clarifications, I will be honored to provide my input.

1. What is Centric Relation (CR) and why is it important?
2. What is Centric Occlusion (CO) and why is it important?
3. Do you restore a crown in CR or CO? Explain your rationale.
4. What is the different between Intra-coronal restoration versus Extra-coronal restorations? Please give an example of each.
5. What is the use of the articulator?
6. What are the types of articulators?
7. What is Anterior Guidance? Why is it used?
8. What is the Bennett Angle?
9. What are the three types of occlusion?
10. What is the Pier Abutment?
11. What is Free Way Space?
12. What is the Free Way Space in denture construction? Give a number.
13. How do you determine Vertical Dimension in denture construction?
14. What is the different between Vertical Dimension at Rest versus Vertical Dimension of Occlusion?
15. What is the rational of palatal seal in upper denture?
16. Why is covering the retro-molar pads in lower denture important?
17. What is the Fox Plane?
18. Name three possible reasons why the upper denture lacks retention at delivery.
19. What is the difference between resistant versus retention?
20. What is the difference between stability and retention?

There are many more but this would serve as a basic review questions for you. If you find out that you cannot answer more than 60% of the questions, reviewing is highly advised. I hope this may be of some help. DP

 

[CALALILY]

HERODONTIST...
Oh yes... all mandibular dentures must definitely cover the retromolar area/pads. That is where they derive tissue stability from. If you did not extend a mandibular denture to this area, the denture would keep lifting up from the patients' lower jaw.

I hope this helped you.
Regards.. 🙂

I thought the retro-molar pad wasn't covered in lower denture construction? Correct me if i'm wrong.

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Dr

I really appreciate your concern for all of us. We really need this kind of encouragement.Your help is indispensible.You have proved to be an OASIS IN A DESERT..
Thanks and hope u'll continue to help us as much as u can.

At this point when I am looking forward for interviews,the questions u posted are very helpful.
can you suggest a book where we can find all the answers to the questions with diagrams,I do have the dental decks to explain but diagrams would be more explanatory.
Thanks in advance.

Hello,

Any fixed, removable books can offer the reviews on the subjects but you have to read through the pages to get the answer. Why not use this thread as the "review" materials? If you or anyone have questions that need to be answered, ask and I or other SDN members can chime in. I will also post other questions that are likely to be asked. DP

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

HERODONTIST...
Oh yes... all mandibular dentures must definitely cover the retromolar area/pads. That is where they derive tissue stability from. If you did not extend a mandibular denture to this area, the denture would keep lifting up from the patients' lower jaw.

I hope this helped you.
Regards.. 🙂

Covering the 1/2 to 1/3 retro molar pad is very important because these 2 areas provide support of the lower denture as they tend to resorb minimally during a life time. If you do not cover the pads, as the lower ridge resorbs, the lower CD will sink along with it resulting in posterior open bite. DP

 

[Dr. Dai Phan]

Dr,
thanks a lot for everything that you have done for our small community of FTD`s!!!

One question concerning interview:

I know it depends from school to school, but do they ask more questions from your personal life and want to find out what kind of person you are, or do they want to test your dental knowledge and clinical experience?

Thank you once again!!!!👍

From what I have observed while I was a resident, every international applicant for post graduate studies in general dentistry had to do practicals to show that they can do these procedures properly. Also they were asked on many aspects of restorative dentistry to show that they have a basic understanding of the field. But each program is different. Some want to know that you can handle post graduate cases while others may want to know you as a person. Your best bet is to prepare to answer some questions that may be asked like the ones I posted here. DP

 

[herodontist]

Covering the 1/2 to 1/3 retro molar pad is very important

Ah yes, that's what I remember from pros class 😛