Dental caries: 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 caries

Sample item

What process initiates enamel caries in the presence of frequent fermentable carbohydrate exposure?

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

The answer and the reasoning

A. Acid-mediated demineralization by plaque bacteria

Plaque bacteria metabolize fermentable carbohydrates into acids that lower local pH and dissolve enamel mineral; repeated episodes without adequate remineralization allow a carious lesion to progress.

Option by option

  • A. Acid-mediated demineralization by plaque bacteria (correct)

    Correct: bacterial acid drives enamel demineralization.

  • B. Loss of blood supply to the tooth

    Teeth do not develop caries from loss of their blood supply.

  • C. Excess fluoride incorporation

    Appropriate fluoride promotes remineralization rather than causing caries.

  • D. Direct viral destruction of enamel

    Viruses do not directly cause the usual process of dental caries.

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, Acid-mediated demineralization by plaque bacteria. Plaque bacteria metabolize fermentable carbohydrates into acids that lower local pH and dissolve enamel mineral; repeated episodes without adequate remineralization allow a carious lesion to progress.

Why is "Loss of blood supply to the tooth" not the answer?

Teeth do not develop caries from loss of their blood supply.

Why is "Excess fluoride incorporation" not the answer?

Appropriate fluoride promotes remineralization rather than causing caries.

Why is "Direct viral destruction of enamel" not the answer?

Viruses do not directly cause the usual process of dental caries.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Dental caries in Dentistry. The correct option holds because: Correct: bacterial acid drives enamel demineralization.

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 caries?

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.