National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE) Dental Hygienist Practice Test

A pedicle graft uses a flap of tissue from which part of the mouth?

1. From a neighboring tooth

2. From the roof of the mouth

3. From the inside cheek

4. From any location it can be found

The correct answer is: From a neighboring tooth

A pedicle graft is a type of grafting technique where a flap of tissue is taken from an area close to the site that needs repair or enhancement, maintaining its own vascular supply. This technique usually involves obtaining the graft from the roof of the mouth, also known as the hard palate, because this area provides a suitable thickness of tissue that can support the healing process and integration into the recipient site. Using tissue from the neighboring tooth is not accurate, as the term "pedicle graft" specifically refers to a graft taken from a broader, more accessible donor site, typically the palate or the inside of the cheek, rather than from the tooth itself. The other options, such as using tissue from the inside cheek or the roof of the mouth, refer to the correct contexts for pedicle grafts, but tissue needs to be closely adjacent to the area of surgical intervention to ensure optimal healing and blood supply. Thus, the flap must come from a viable tissue source that is nearby rather than extracting from an arbitrary location.