National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) Practice Exam

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Prepare for the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDEB) Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and detailed explanations. Achieve success in your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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How long does it take bacterial plaque to form acid from sucrose?

1-5 minutes
2-10 minutes
10-20 minutes
30-60 minutes

The correct answer is: 2-10 minutes

Bacterial plaque is a sticky, colorless film that forms on the teeth and contains bacteria that feed on the sugars in food. When these bacteria consume sucrose, a common type of sugar found in sweets and processed foods, they produce acid as a byproduct. This acid can eventually lead to tooth decay. The formation of acid from sucrose can happen within minutes, but it typically takes around 2-10 minutes for enough acid to accumulate to start damaging the tooth enamel. Therefore, B is the most accurate answer. The other options are incorrect because they either overestimate or underestimate the time it takes for acid to form from sucrose. A, 1-5 minutes, is too short of a time frame for enough acid to accumulate and cause damage. C and D, 10-20 minutes and 30-60 minutes, respectively, overestimate the amount of time