Minnesota Dental Assisting Licensure Practice Exam 2025 - Free Dental Assistant Practice Questions and Study Guide

An appropriate home-care instruction for a patient with provisional coverage is to pull floss through the contact to either the facial or lingual side. This technique is crucial because provisional restorations can be more delicate than permanent restorations, and traditional flossing methods can sometimes dislodge or damage the provisional coverage. By pulling the floss through to the facial or lingual side, the patient minimizes the risk of disturbing the provisional while still maintaining good interproximal hygiene.

Maintaining the health of the gums and the area around a provisional is vital to ensure the success of the final restoration. Proper flossing technique helps prevent food debris from accumulating and reduces the risk of plaque buildup without putting undue stress on the provisional. Therefore, this method of flossing supports both oral hygiene and the longevity of the provisional restoration, making it the best instruction for patients in this scenario.