Free Dental Hygiene Board Exam Sample Questions

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Your Free Dental Hygiene Board Sample Question

A nasolabial cyst is a type of nonodontogenic, soft tissue cyst that does not have alveolar bone involvement. It typically occurs in adults 40 to 50 years of age, with a 4:1 predilection for females. It presents clinically as a swelling in the mucolabial fold in the area of the maxillary canine and floor of the nose. Because it is a soft tissue cyst, there is no radiographic change associated with its development. Treatment of a nasolabial cyst is surgical excision, and its recurrence is rare.

• A. Gingival cyst
• B. Eruption cyst
• C. Nasolabial cyst
• D. Primordial cyst
• E. Dentigerous cyst

Incorrect Answer Explanations

Answer A: A gingival cyst is a developmental odontogenic cyst that typically occurs on the lateral root surface of the mandibular canines and premolars and is located extraosseously (outside of the bone or in soft tissue). It appears clinically as a small bulge or swelling of the attached gingiva or interdental papillae. When it is located within bone, it is called a lateral periodontal cyst. The treatment is surgical excision.

Answer B: An eruption cyst is an odontogenic cyst that is found in the soft tissue surrounding the crown of an erupting tooth. It presents clinically as a swelling of the gingival mucosa over the crown of the erupting tooth. It can be seen with both deciduous and permanent teeth but is most commonly associated with the deciduous mandibular central incisors and the permanent maxillary first permanent molars. This condition usually does not require treatment, as the tooth erupts through the cyst.

Answer D: A primordial cyst is an odontogenic cyst that develops in place of a tooth and is most commonly found in place of a third molar. It originates from the remnants and degeneration of the enamel organ. They are most often seen in young adults and are asymptomatic. Radiographically, they appear as a well-defined radiolucent area that is either unilocular or multilocular. Treatment of a primordial cysts involves the surgical removal of the entire lesion.

Answer E: A dentigerous cyst is an odontogenic cyst that is also called a follicular cyst. It forms around the crown of an erupting or developing tooth. It is the most commonly occurring type of developmental odontogenic cyst, whereas a radicular cyst is the most common odontogenic cyst of an inflammatory nature. The most common location for a dentigerous cyst is around the crown of an unerupted or impacted mandibular third molar. Dentigerous cysts appear radiographically as a well-defined, unilocular radiolucency, and the treatment includes the complete removal of the cyst and usually the involved tooth as well.

Bottom Line

A nasolabial cyst is a type of nonodontogenic, soft tissue cyst that does not have alveolar bone involvement.

For more information, see:

Ibsen O, Phelan J. Developmental disorders. In: Oral Pathology for the Dental Hygienist. 7th ed. Elsevier; 2018.

Image source for dentigerous cyst. Prevalence of pathologies related to impacted mandibular third molars. Shin SM, Choi EJ, Moon SY – SpringerPlus (2016).

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