Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: acute apical abscess: 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: acute apical abscess

Sample item

A man has severe throbbing toothache, facial swelling, fever, and a lower molar that is exquisitely tender to percussion and non-responsive to pulp tests. What is the most likely diagnosis?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Acute apical abscess

A non-vital tooth with percussion tenderness, swelling and systemic features suggests an acute periapical abscess. Treatment is drainage, antibiotics when systemic signs exist, and root canal treatment or extraction.

Option by option

  • A. Cracked cusp

    A cracked cusp gives pain on biting but not facial swelling and fever.

  • B. Acute apical abscess (correct)

    Correct. Percussion pain and non-vital pulp with swelling indicate an apical abscess.

  • C. Dentine hypersensitivity

    Hypersensitivity gives brief pain to cold with no swelling.

  • D. Reversible pulpitis

    Reversible pulpitis causes short pain with stimuli and responds to tests.

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.

More Dentistry questions

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is B, Acute apical abscess. A non-vital tooth with percussion tenderness, swelling and systemic features suggests an acute periapical abscess.

Why is "Cracked cusp" not the answer?

A cracked cusp gives pain on biting but not facial swelling and fever.

Why is "Dentine hypersensitivity" not the answer?

Hypersensitivity gives brief pain to cold with no swelling.

Why is "Reversible pulpitis" not the answer?

Reversible pulpitis causes short pain with stimuli and responds to tests.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Caries, pulp and periodontal disease: acute apical abscess in Dentistry. Treatment is drainage, antibiotics when systemic signs exist, and root canal treatment or extraction.

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: acute apical abscess?

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.