HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

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Master HOSA Dental terminology with interactive quizzes and multiple-choice questions. Study with confidence and enhance your ability for exam success and knowledge expansion. Prepare effectively and achieve your certification goals.

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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What is a characteristic feature of an abscess?

Hardening of tissue
Fluid accumulation
Pain and swelling
All of the above

The correct answer is: Pain and swelling

An abscess is characterized by localized infection leading to the accumulation of pus, which is a thick fluid made up of white blood cells, bacteria, and dead tissue. The presence of fluid accumulation is a key feature of an abscess, and it often leads to noticeable symptoms such as pain and swelling in the affected area. When an abscess forms, the body's immune system responds to the infection, causing inflammation. This response can manifest as pain and swelling due to increased blood flow and the accumulation of immune cells at the site. While hardening of tissue can occur in some circumstances, it is not a defining characteristic of an abscess. Considering these aspects, pain and swelling are indeed prominent features associated with an abscess, making this option the best representation of the primary characteristics one would expect when diagnosing or discussing an abscess in a clinical or educational setting.