Oral and maxillofacial surgery: TMJ dislocation: 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: TMJ dislocation

Sample item

A woman yawns widely and cannot close her mouth. Both condyles lie in front of the articular eminence, and a depression is felt in front of each tragus. Which is the correct manoeuvre?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Press down and back on the lower molars with thumbs, then lift the chin

In anterior dislocation the condyles are trapped in front of the eminence. Downward and backward pressure on the molars (Hippocratic method) lets the condyles return to the fossa.

Option by option

  • A. Press down and back on the lower molars with thumbs, then lift the chin (correct)

    Correct. Downward and backward pressure reduces the dislocation.

  • B. Push the mandible forward

    Pushing forward worsens the displacement.

  • C. Lateral rotation of the head

    Head rotation does not act on the joint.

  • D. Open the mouth wider with a gag

    Opening wider keeps the condyles anterior.

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 A, Press down and back on the lower molars with thumbs, then lift the chin. In anterior dislocation the condyles are trapped in front of the eminence.

Why is "Push the mandible forward" not the answer?

Pushing forward worsens the displacement.

Why is "Lateral rotation of the head" not the answer?

Head rotation does not act on the joint.

Why is "Open the mouth wider with a gag" not the answer?

Opening wider keeps the condyles anterior.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: TMJ dislocation in Dentistry. Downward and backward pressure on the molars (Hippocratic method) lets the condyles return to the fossa.

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: TMJ dislocation?

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.