Root Debridement Endpoint — ORE Part 1 MCQ
Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.
Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — A smooth, hard root surface detected by tactile feedback from the probe or curette
The correct endpoint for root surface debridement is tactile detection of a smooth, hard root surface. This is the gold standard in UK periodontal practice and is achieved when all pathogenic plaque, calculus, and altered cementum have been removed. Option A is the only defensible answer. Option C is incorrect because gingival colour reflects the inflammatory status but not the completeness of root debridement. Option D fails because radiographs cannot reliably detect subgingival calculus deposits. Option E is misleading because bleeding during instrumentation reflects soft tissue trauma, not successful debridement. Option B is incorrect because clinical effectiveness depends on multiple patient and procedural variables, not a fixed mechanical count.
Reference: Scottish Dental Clinical Effectiveness Programme (SDCEP) — Prevention and Treatment of Periodontal Diseases in Primary Care (current guidance, www.periodontalcare.sdcep.org.uk); Tunkel et al. (2015) 'Clinical evaluation of the speed and effectiveness of subgingival calculus removal on single-rooted teeth with diamond-coated ultrasonic tips' (PubMed PMID: 9182738), https://www.periodontalcare.sdcep.org.uk/guidance/treatment-components/pmpr/instrument-choice/