Oral and maxillofacial surgery: osteomyelitis of the jaw: 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: osteomyelitis of the jaw

Sample item

A diabetic man has a swollen painful lower jaw with fever and numbness of the lower lip. A radiograph shows a moth-eaten radiolucency with sequestra. Which fact explains why the mandible is more often affected than the maxilla?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Its cortical bone has a poorer blood supply

The thick cortical mandible depends on a single inferior alveolar artery, and its poor collateral supply makes it susceptible to osteomyelitis. The maxilla has a rich blood supply and thin porous bone.

Option by option

  • A. It is closer to the brain

    Proximity to the brain is irrelevant to jaw infection.

  • B. Its cortical bone has a poorer blood supply (correct)

    Correct. A poorer vascular supply makes the mandible vulnerable.

  • C. It is covered by thick skin

    Skin thickness is not relevant.

  • D. It has more teeth

    Both jaws have teeth, so this does not explain the difference.

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 B, Its cortical bone has a poorer blood supply. The thick cortical mandible depends on a single inferior alveolar artery, and its poor collateral supply makes it susceptible to osteomyelitis.

Why is "It is closer to the brain" not the answer?

Proximity to the brain is irrelevant to jaw infection.

Why is "It is covered by thick skin" not the answer?

Skin thickness is not relevant.

Why is "It has more teeth" not the answer?

Both jaws have teeth, so this does not explain the difference.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery: osteomyelitis of the jaw in Dentistry. The maxilla has a rich blood supply and thin porous bone.

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: osteomyelitis of the jaw?

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.