Oral and maxillofacial surgery: causes of trismus: 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: causes of trismus

Sample item

Which of the following is a recognised cause of trismus?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Pericoronitis of a lower third molar

Trismus is restricted mouth opening from muscle spasm or fibrosis, and infection in masticatory spaces such as pericoronitis or abscess is a frequent cause. Others include tetanus, fractures of the zygomatic arch and radiotherapy fibrosis.

Option by option

  • A. Macroglossia

    Macroglossia enlarges the tongue and does not cause trismus.

  • B. Ankyloglossia

    Ankyloglossia limits tongue movement and not jaw opening.

  • C. Cleft palate

    Cleft palate affects feeding and speech but does not restrict opening.

  • D. Pericoronitis of a lower third molar (correct)

    Correct. Inflammation involving the masticatory muscles causes trismus.

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, Pericoronitis of a lower third molar. Trismus is restricted mouth opening from muscle spasm or fibrosis, and infection in masticatory spaces such as pericoronitis or abscess is a frequent cause.

Why is "Macroglossia" not the answer?

Macroglossia enlarges the tongue and does not cause trismus.

Why is "Ankyloglossia" not the answer?

Ankyloglossia limits tongue movement and not jaw opening.

Why is "Cleft palate" not the answer?

Cleft palate affects feeding and speech but does not restrict opening.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: causes of trismus in Dentistry. Others include tetanus, fractures of the zygomatic arch and radiotherapy fibrosis.

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 Oral and maxillofacial surgery: causes of trismus?

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.