Oral and maxillofacial surgery: bilateral condylar fractures: 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 · Oral and maxillofacial surgery: bilateral condylar fractures

Sample item

After a fall onto the chin, a patient has an anterior open bite with only the molars contacting and a retruded chin. Which injury is the most probable?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Bilateral subcondylar fractures

In bilateral condylar fractures the ramus shortens on both sides and the posterior teeth contact prematurely, leaving an anterior open bite. The chin is retruded.

Option by option

  • A. Dislocated tongue

    A tongue lesion would not cause skeletal malocclusion.

  • B. Bilateral coronoid fractures

    Coronoid fractures do not alter occlusion this way.

  • C. Maxillary alveolar fracture

    A maxillary alveolar fracture does not make the chin retrude.

  • D. Bilateral subcondylar fractures (correct)

    Correct. Bilateral ramus shortening produces an anterior open bite.

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 D, Bilateral subcondylar fractures. In bilateral condylar fractures the ramus shortens on both sides and the posterior teeth contact prematurely, leaving an anterior open bite.

Why is "Dislocated tongue" not the answer?

A tongue lesion would not cause skeletal malocclusion.

Why is "Bilateral coronoid fractures" not the answer?

Coronoid fractures do not alter occlusion this way.

Why is "Maxillary alveolar fracture" not the answer?

A maxillary alveolar fracture does not make the chin retrude.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: bilateral condylar fractures in Dentistry. The chin is retruded.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 Oral and maxillofacial surgery: bilateral condylar fractures?

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.