Oral medicine: aphthous ulceration: 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.

Try it

Dentistry · Oral medicine: aphthous ulceration

Sample item

A patient has recurrent painful shallow oral ulcers with yellow-gray base and erythematous halo on nonkeratinized mucosa. What is most likely?

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

The answer and the reasoning

C. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Recurrent aphthous ulcers are painful noninfectious ulcers on nonkeratinized oral mucosa and typically heal without scarring. Frequent severe disease may prompt evaluation for systemic contributors.

Option by option

  • A. Leukoplakia

    Leukoplakia is a persistent white plaque.

  • B. Oral melanoma

    Melanoma is a pigmented malignant lesion.

  • C. Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (correct)

    Correct. Painful recurrent shallow ulcers on nonkeratinized mucosa are aphthae.

  • D. Primary syphilis

    Primary syphilis classically causes a painless ulcer.

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 C, Recurrent aphthous stomatitis. Recurrent aphthous ulcers are painful noninfectious ulcers on nonkeratinized oral mucosa and typically heal without scarring.

Why is "Leukoplakia" not the answer?

Leukoplakia is a persistent white plaque.

Why is "Oral melanoma" not the answer?

Melanoma is a pigmented malignant lesion.

Why is "Primary syphilis" not the answer?

Primary syphilis classically causes a painless ulcer.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral medicine: aphthous ulceration in Dentistry. Frequent severe disease may prompt evaluation for systemic contributors.

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 medicine: aphthous ulceration?

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.