Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: white spot lesion: practice question

A Dentistry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Dentistry · Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: white spot lesion

Sample item

A teenager with orthodontic brackets has chalky white opaque areas at the gingival side of the brackets. The enamel surface is intact. What is the best management?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Improve oral hygiene and apply topical fluoride to remineralise

The white spot lesion is the earliest clinical sign of enamel caries and represents subsurface demineralisation. It can be reversed by remineralisation with fluoride and plaque control.

Option by option

  • A. Immediate restoration with composite

    Restoration is for cavitated lesions, not intact white spots.

  • B. Root canal treatment

    The pulp is not involved, so endodontic treatment is not indicated.

  • C. Improve oral hygiene and apply topical fluoride to remineralise (correct)

    Correct. Non-cavitated lesions are managed by remineralisation.

  • D. Extraction of the affected teeth

    Extraction is unwarranted for early enamel change.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is C, Improve oral hygiene and apply topical fluoride to remineralise. The white spot lesion is the earliest clinical sign of enamel caries and represents subsurface demineralisation.

Why is "Immediate restoration with composite" not the answer?

Restoration is for cavitated lesions, not intact white spots.

Why is "Root canal treatment" not the answer?

The pulp is not involved, so endodontic treatment is not indicated.

Why is "Extraction of the affected teeth" not the answer?

Extraction is unwarranted for early enamel change.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: white spot lesion in Dentistry. It can be reversed by remineralisation with fluoride and plaque control.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: white spot lesion?

Learn the dental formula, eruption ages and tooth structure once, as tables. Then use the flashcards and the other Dentistry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.