General Knowledge for Dentists Quiz

Answer: Pulp

Although the band originally formed in 1978 it took many years, and several changes of personnel, before commercial success arrived. Pulp, a name chosen by Cocker, kept going through the lean years, with Cocker himself being the one constant member. The band eventually hit the UK charts in 1995 with 'Common People' and followed up with a few more top ten hits, before breaking up in 2002 and re-forming in 2011.

Pulp, to a dentist, is the central part of the tooth which contains the connective tissue. This tissue forms the dentine. The pulp is also the part of the tooth which registers sensitivity to hot and cold.

Answer: Floss

The book is 'The Mill on the Floss', which tells the story of Maggie and Tom Tulliver and their doomed relationships. The River Floss plays a central part in the tale and is the power which runs the mill where the family lives.

Dental floss is that string like cord used to clean the narrow gaps between your teeth which a normal toothbrush can't get into.

Answer: Gum

GUM is an abbreviation for the Russian words meaning 'main universal store' and applies to many large shops in the country, although the best known one is in Moscow, opposite the walls of the Kremlin. In the Soviet era, the building was owned by the state, with Stalin using it as offices from 1928 until 1953 when it reverted to shops. When the Soviet era ended, ownership passed into private hands and by the end of the twentieth century the building consisted of many up market, and expensive, retail outlets.

To a dentist, gum (or GUM) would not conjure up visions of shopping heaven but the part of your mouth where the teeth are located. He or she would probably call it gingiva, though. Gum disease is one of the main causes of tooth loss.

Answer: Calculus

The mathematical theories of calculus were devised in the latter part of the seventeenth century by the English Isaac Newton and German Gottfried Liebniz. The two men were working independently and argued over which of them should be credited with the discovery. Normally both are mentioned in the history of mathematics.

Calculus in dentistry refers to hardened plaque which forms on the teeth. It can't be removed by normal brushing and is the main focus of a dental hygienist's attentions when you have your teeth scaled and polished.

Answer: Root

Joe Root was selected for England's Test team in late 2012 when England were playing India away. His batting, and occasional bowling, helped his team secure a series win against India. Root also played in the Twenty20 and One Day International teams. His first Test century came against New Zealand in 2013. Root is frequently mentioned, at least in the Press, as being a future England captain.

In dental terms, the root is the part of the tooth that we can't see. When teeth are extracted, the dentist has to ensure that the whole tooth is removed. The roots of some teeth, and those of some people, are more deeply embedded than others.

Answer: Cusp

The cusp marks the transition from one astrological house to the next. People born at that time are described as having characteristics of both star signs.

In dentistry, the cusp is the pointed part of the tooth. The number of cusps varies according to the type of tooth, with molars - the large teeth situated at the back of the mouth - having most.

Answer: Canal

The names in the question all refer to well known canals, which are man made waterways often built to provide access to the sea for moving large loads. The best known are probably the Panama Canal in Central America and the Suez Canal in Egypt, but you wouldn't want it to be that easy, would you?

In dental terms, a canal is the part of the tooth where much of the dental pulp is found. The dreaded root canal treatment removes infected pulp to replace it with a filling.

Answer: Crown

The names given all relate to monarchs of the British Isles. Henry VIII was king of England, while Georges I, II and III ruled Great Britain and Georges V and VI ruled the United Kingdom. One of the symbols of the monarchy is the crown and, with a capital C, the Crown is used as shorthand to refer to the Royal rulers of the UK.

A crown in dentistry describes an artificial tooth shaped replacement for a badly diseased or damaged tooth. The crown is fitted over the remains of the real tooth and fixed with dental cement.

Answer: Drill

When new recruits join the army, one of the first things they are taught is drill. This consists of marching in unison with other soldiers, and is known informally as 'square bashing' in the United Kingdom.

The dentist's drill is used to remove decay from a tooth prior to filling the cavity with amalgams or other materials. The high pitched whine which they make sends shivers down most spines, including mine.

Answer: Bridge

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was the designer of bridges such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and the Maidenhead Railway Bridge in Berkshire. Thomas Telford created numerous bridges, with the Menai Suspension Bridge probably the best known. John A. Roebling was the designer of New York's Brooklyn Bridge.

A dental bridge is very much smaller than anything designed by these civil engineers. It is named a bridge as it spans a gap left by a missing tooth by creating an artificial tooth or teeth to fill in the space.