Practice Question
A nurse is teaching a class about oral hygiene. The nurse should include that which of the following substances coats the teeth to protect them from plaque?
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Correct Answer:
Enamel
Rationale:
🦷 Enamel is the tooth’s outermost mineralized layer (≈96% hydroxyapatite), making it the hardest tissue in the human body.
🦷 It forms a protective barrier over the crown, helping shield underlying dentin from plaque acids, mechanical wear, and thermal/chemical irritation.
🦷 By resisting acid demineralization, enamel slows the progression of caries produced by plaque bacteria; fluoride further strengthens enamel by forming fluorapatite.
🦷 Saliva supports enamel health via buffering and remineralization (calcium/phosphate), underscoring the role of hydration and oral hygiene in plaque control.
🦷 Because enamel has no living cells, damage is irreversible; prevention through fluoride toothpaste, gentle brushing, flossing, and dietary sugar control is essential.
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This question is from ☑️ATI- Custom Exam 4 Fundamentals 25Q3 which contains 33 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Fundamentals of Nursing
- Answer Choices: 4