Question

When taking radiographs during a continued-care appointment, the dental hygienist observes that the area apical to tooth #14 is still abscessed 1 year after the last radiographs were taken. The dental hygienist can correctly inform the client that infection in this area could lead to primary sinusitis and perforation of the sinus because tooth #14 is located beneath the floor of the maxillary sinus. Which of the following is a potential complication of infection in the area apical to tooth #14?

1) Primary sinusitis
2) Perforation of the sinus
3) Toothache
4) Gingivitis

Answer 1

Possible complications of an infection in the area apical to tooth #14, which is underneath the maxillary sinus, include primary sinusitis and perforation of the sinus. Toothache is a common symptom, and gingivitis is unrelated to this specific type of infection.

Step-by-step explanation:

When taking radiographs during a continued-care appointment, the dental hygienist observes that the area apical to tooth #14 is still abscessed 1 year after the last radiographs were taken. The dental hygienist can inform the client that an infection in the apical area of tooth #14 could lead to various complications because this tooth is located beneath the floor of the maxillary sinus. The potential complications of such an infection include primary sinusitis, which is the inflammation and infection of the sinus, and perforation of the sinus, whereby an infection creates a passage through the sinus lining. These are specifically due to the close proximity of the roots of tooth #14 to the maxillary sinus, which is vulnerable to infection from dental abscesses. Additionally, a toothache is a common symptom, but not a complication, and gingivitis is a gum condition that is not directly caused by infection in the area apical to tooth #14.