Practice DAT Reading Comprehension Passage: Sponsored by quip

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Passage Title: Comparing Cleaning Efficacy of Two Toothbrush Designs – An In Vitro Study

Questions:

1. What was the primary goal of the study?
   A. To determine if manual toothbrushes are more effective than electric toothbrushes in general oral hygiene
   B. To evaluate the impact of brushing pressure on enamel wear
   C. To compare the interproximal and gumline cleaning ability of an electric oscillating toothbrush and a manual toothbrush
   D. To assess the consumer preference between two toothbrush brands

2. Which method was used to simulate plaque on the tooth models?
   A. Artificial saliva application
   B. A fluorescent dye visible under UV light
   C. Coating with a dental plaque substitute
   D. Brushing with real toothpaste

3. According to the study, which of the following best describes the brushing protocol used in the experiment?
   A. Brushing for 2 minutes continuously on all surfaces
   B. Five strokes on each tooth with a rotating brush head
   C. Five forward and backward strokes on each surface of the teeth
   D. Ten up-and-down strokes along the gumline only

4. Why was a split-cast model used in this study?
   A. To facilitate the use of ultrasonic cleaning between trials
   B. To ensure that the teeth stayed in place during brushing
   C. To allow standardized access and imaging of interproximal regions
   D. To provide consistent toothpaste flow throughout brushing

5. Which statistical tests were used to analyze the cleaning data?
   A. Chi-square test and ANOVA
   B. Paired t-test and regression analysis
   C. 2-Sample T-Test and Mann-Whitney Test
   D. Linear regression and Kruskal-Wallis

6. What can be inferred about the variability in gumline cleaning between the two toothbrushes?
   A. The manual toothbrush showed lower variability than the oscillating toothbrush
   B. Variability was not measured in this study
   C. The oscillating toothbrush had higher mean cleaning but also higher variability
   D. Both toothbrushes showed identical standard deviations

7. Which of the following best summarizes the study’s conclusion?
   A. The manual toothbrush is suitable for cleaning only the occlusal surfaces
   B. There is no significant difference in cleaning efficacy between the two toothbrushes
   C. The quip Rev Oscillating Toothbrush was significantly more effective in interproximal and gumline cleaning
   D. Neither toothbrush was effective at removing plaque from interproximal areas

8. How many replicates were used for each toothbrush model during testing?
   A. 10
   B. 12
   C. 15
   D. 24

9. Which of the following most accurately reflects the numerical results presented in the study?
   A. The manual toothbrush cleaned 26% of the gumline region
   B. The electric toothbrush cleaned 2% of interproximal spaces
   C. The electric toothbrush cleaned 31% of the interproximal gumline area
   D. The manual toothbrush cleaned 9% of the occlusal region

10. What is the most likely reason the researchers used image analysis software?
    A. To generate 3D models of the teeth
    B. To visually assess gingival health
    C. To calculate the percentage of plaque removal quantitatively
    D. To determine the weight of residual plaque on tooth surfaces

Answer Key:

1. C – The objective clearly states the study aimed to compare the cleaning ability of two toothbrush designs in interproximal and gumline regions.

2. C – The methodology section specifies that a dental plaque substitute was used to coat the tooth models.

3. C – The brushing protocol involved 5 forward and backward strokes on buccal, lingual, and occlusal surfaces.

4. C – A split-cast model was used to standardize test conditions and facilitate imaging of the interproximal regions.

5. C – The study used a 2-Sample T-Test and Mann-Whitney Test to compare results statistically.

6. C – The oscillating brush had a higher mean gumline cleaning (31%) with a higher standard deviation (±9) than the manual brush (9%, ±3), indicating more variability.

7. C – The conclusion clearly states that the quip Rev Oscillating Toothbrush was statistically superior in cleaning efficacy.

8. B – 12 replicates were performed for each toothbrush model.

9. C – The quip Rev Oscillating Toothbrush achieved a 31% mean gumline cleaning value.

10. C – Image analysis software was used to calculate plaque removal percentages, i.e., the cleaned areas quantitatively.