Dental materials and radiology: odontoma: 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 · Dental materials and radiology: odontoma

Sample item

A 12-year-old has a retained primary canine and a radiograph shows a mass of tooth-like structures (denticles) in the anterior maxilla. What is the lesion?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Compound odontoma

Compound odontomas are made of several tooth-like denticles and occur typically in the anterior maxilla. Complex odontomas are an amorphous mass of enamel and dentine, usually in the posterior mandible.

Option by option

  • A. Compound odontoma (correct)

    Correct. Denticles in the anterior maxilla identify a compound odontoma.

  • B. Ameloblastic carcinoma

    Ameloblastic carcinoma is malignant and destructive.

  • C. Cementoblastoma

    Cementoblastoma is fused to a root.

  • D. Complex odontoma

    A complex odontoma is amorphous with no tooth-like forms.

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 A, Compound odontoma. Compound odontomas are made of several tooth-like denticles and occur typically in the anterior maxilla.

Why is "Ameloblastic carcinoma" not the answer?

Ameloblastic carcinoma is malignant and destructive.

Why is "Cementoblastoma" not the answer?

Cementoblastoma is fused to a root.

Why is "Complex odontoma" not the answer?

A complex odontoma is amorphous with no tooth-like forms.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Dental materials and radiology: odontoma in Dentistry. Complex odontomas are an amorphous mass of enamel and dentine, usually in the posterior mandible.

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 Dental materials and radiology: odontoma?

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.