Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: articaine structure: 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 and facial fractures: articaine structure

Sample item

Articaine differs chemically from other amide local anaesthetics used in dentistry because of which feature?

AIt has no vasoconstrictor in any preparationBIt contains an additional ester group and is partly hydrolysed in plasmaCIt is an ester anaesthetic derived from para-aminobenzoic acidDIt is metabolised only by the liver

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. It contains an additional ester group and is partly hydrolysed in plasma

Articaine is an amide with a thiophene ring and an extra ester side chain. Plasma esterases hydrolyse that ester, giving a shorter systemic half-life, and the rest is metabolised in the liver. It diffuses well through bone and is widely used for infiltration.

Option by option

A. It has no vasoconstrictor in any preparation
Articaine is commonly supplied with epinephrine as a vasoconstrictor.
B. It contains an additional ester group and is partly hydrolysed in plasma (correct)
Correct. The extra ester group allows rapid plasma hydrolysis.
C. It is an ester anaesthetic derived from para-aminobenzoic acid
Para-aminobenzoic acid esters such as procaine have a different structure and a higher allergy risk.
D. It is metabolised only by the liver
Articaine is not metabolised only in the liver because plasma esterases contribute.

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.

Questions about this Dentistry question

What is the answer to this Dentistry question?

The best answer is B, It contains an additional ester group and is partly hydrolysed in plasma. Articaine is an amide with a thiophene ring and an extra ester side chain.

Why is "It has no vasoconstrictor in any preparation" not the answer?

Articaine is commonly supplied with epinephrine as a vasoconstrictor.

Why is "It is an ester anaesthetic derived from para-aminobenzoic acid" not the answer?

Para-aminobenzoic acid esters such as procaine have a different structure and a higher allergy risk.

Why is "It is metabolised only by the liver" not the answer?

Articaine is not metabolised only in the liver because plasma esterases contribute.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Oral and maxillofacial surgery and facial fractures: articaine structure in Dentistry. Plasma esterases hydrolyse that ester, giving a shorter systemic half-life, and the rest is metabolised in the liver. It diffuses well through bone and is widely used for infiltration.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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 and facial fractures: articaine structure?

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.