Admission Test for Dental Hygiene (ATDH) Practice 2026 – All-in-One Study Guide to Excel in Your Exam!

The correct answer identifies the two main types of dental hygiene practices: preventive and therapeutic. Preventive practices are focused on the maintenance of oral health and the prevention of dental diseases. This can include activities such as patient education, plaque control, fluoride treatments, and regular cleanings to reduce the risk of cavities and periodontal disease.

Therapeutic practices involve the treatment of existing oral health issues, helping to manage and remediate conditions such as gingivitis or periodontitis. This could involve scaling and root planing, providing necessary interventions to restore health to the oral cavity.

The other options do not accurately categorize dental hygiene practices in the same foundational way. For example, diagnostic and surgical pertains more to the broader field of dentistry rather than specifically to the practices within dental hygiene. Similarly, reconstructive and cosmetic relate to types of dental treatments but not directly to hygiene practices. Preventive and restorative also addresses some elements of dental care, but restorative typically focuses on repairing dental issues after they have occurred, which does not fully encompass the broader spectrum of hygiene practices.